A MILITARY PERSPECTIVE / I Yield To Thee

This is the 7^th of 7 devotions with the theme

From 1 Corinthians 13:5

Love Does Not Insist On It's Own Rights

A MILITARY PERSPECTIVE
by
Kent and Rebecca Cooley

 (Adapted from 1 Corinthians 6:20; 13:5; Ephesians 6:20)

When one joins the military, one relinquishes his rights as a civilian and pledges himself as a member of the highest authority in the land.  During the period of his enlistment, this person becomes the possession of the United States government.  No longer is this individual allowed to go where he wants to go and do what he wants to do at his own discretion.  If he were to leave the military before his enlistment expires, he would be declared AWAL and would be arrested and tried before a court.  One must make a quality decision before signing the line that places him in covenant with the government for military service to be loyal and submissive.  And just as the enlisted individual will put his life on the line for his country, the US government will guard and protect this individual as its own. 

The Apostle Paul declared himself to be a bond servant in the same sense – the property of Jesus Christ:

"For which I am an ambassador in bonds:

that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak."

When we give our lives to Christ, we are no longer our own.  We are bought with a price, purchased by the blood and we become the possession of Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 6:20) We make a quality decision to follow Christ and we go where He wants us to go, we do what He wants us to do and say what He wants us to say, many times denying ourselves the right to do as we please.

When we become an ambassador to the bonds of Love, we do not insist on our own rights any longer.  We lay down our lives in honor of love.  In return we get the authority of the Word of Almighty God and along with that comes protection, all provision, hope and trust. 

Lord, I have made a quality decision to follow you.  I gladly live my life as an ambassador in bonds.  I don't want my own way.  You have bought me and redeemed me and I relinquish all ties to anything except for your bonds of love.  As I place my hand and my heart I pledge allegiance to You in the bond of Love.

© LoveWalkPublishing 

Devotion Authored by KentAndRebeccaCooley 

Click here to view today's music video on youtube

I YIELD TO THEE

(Adapted from Luke 14:35; 1 Timothy 2:8; 

Ephesians 6:20; 1 Corinthians 13:5)

Verse 1

As we humbly lift up hands, 

You make them holy

As we think on heavenly things, 

We come to know Thee

As we come to the altar, 

A sacrifice we will be

You will fill our hungry hearts 

With brand new songs to sing

Chorus

I yield to Thee / I yield to Thee

Here’s my life 

Let me be what You’d have me to be

Here’s my cup, fill it up 

I yield to Thee

Verse 2

Recite: As we come, Lord, this will be 

The prayer that we pray

“Give us ears to listen 

For what the Spirit has to say,

Lord, I don’t want to just ask permission 

For my own way but instead

Sing:    Let me have submission to be led.”

© LoveWalkMusic 

WordsAndMusic by KentCliffordCooley 

RADICAL LOVE, RADICAL RESULTS / Turn, Turn, Turn

This is the 6^th of 7 devotions with the theme

From 1 Corinthians 13:5

Love Does Not Insist On It's Own Rights

RADICAL LOVE, RADICAL RESULTS 
by
Kent and Rebecca Cooley

(Adapted from Matthew 5)

The Sermon on the Mount was all about giving up rights.  He told the crowd that the poor were blessed when they realized their need for God.  He told them that the humble would inherit the whole earth, not the bold ones.  He told them that those who hungered for right living would be satisfied, not those who took it by force.  He told them that if they were merciful, they would receive mercy and those whose hearts were pure would feel and see God.  He called them blessed with life joy and God’s favor regardless of their outward conditions!

Jesus kept reminding the people that what the law said was not what God wanted.  Jesus told them over and over to renounce their own rights and take on the unassuming nature of love. 

"You have heard that it was said, 
An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth. 

But I say to you,
 Do not resist the evil man who injures you;

but if anyone strikes you on the right jaw or cheek, 
turn to him the other one too.

And if anyone wants to sue you 
and take your shirt, 
let him have your coat also!"

Jesus clearly spoke about not insisting on your own rights with others.  When we release our rights with others, we are radically practicing the love walk.  We are loving radically and completely.

Lord, I want you to accomplish drastic things in my life.  I want you to be able to heal the sick through me.  I want you to run devils away by the radical love that abides inside of me.  I want radical power in these last days and I am willing to practice radical love to get radical results! 

  © LoveWalkPublishing 

Devotion Authored by KentAndRebeccaCooley

Click here to view today's music video on youtube

TURN, TURN, TURN

Devotion: Radical Love, Radical Results

(Adapted from 1 John 4:10; Matthew 5:48-48)

Chorus:

You loved us, turn, turn, turn

We love You, turn, turn, turn

We love our neighbor with the same love 

Whereby You loved us

Bridge 1:

No wonder You said bless those that curse you

No wonder You said do good to those that hate you

Lord, I love You because You first loved me

My neighbor loves me because I first loved them, 

Turn, turn, turn

Bridge 2:

No wonder You said 

Pray for those who despitefully use you

No wonder You said 

Pray for those who persecute you

Lord, I love You because You first loved me

My neighbor loves me because I first loved them, 

Turn, turn, turn

  © LoveWalkMusic 

WordsAndMusic by KentCliffordCooley

THE OBJECT OF MY LOVE / Over Come Evil With Good

This is the 5^th of 7 devotions with the theme

From 1 Corinthians 13:5

Love Does Not Insist On It's Own Rights

THE OBJECT OF MY LOVE
by
Kent and Rebecca Cooley

(Matthew 5:43-44; John 17:14; Romans 12:21; 1 Corinthians 13:5)

Love the Lord your God with all your might!

Love your neighbor as yourself!

Entertain and love the stranger!

Husbands love your wives as Christ loved the church!

Wives obey and love your husbands!

These are instructions on what some of the objects of our love should be. Jesus also said,

“You have heard it said,

You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.

But I tell you,

love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”

You mean my enemy should be the object of my love too? Jesus said to love your enemies. When someone hates you, remind yourself that they are the object of your love and focus on loving them.

A teenager I know gave her heart to Jesus a couple of years ago. Since that time she has experienced rejection from her family. Her mother told her that she liked her the way she used to be. The mother will bring up events from the past that she and the world loved. The mother didn’t accept the truth that had changed her daughter’s life so she rejected her and the truth she had embraced. She became an enemy to her daughter in this area. This became a set up for strife and contention in this family.

Lord, how do I encourage this girl’s heart?

“Child, I have given you a message from My Father and you have received it. Because you have received and embraced truth, the world hates you. You are no longer of the world so therefore the world hates you. The world wants you to be like them. The world wants you to embrace deception and dishonesty. But you are no longer of the world just as I am not of the world. Walk in truth in all humility and you will walk in love.

© LoveWalkPublishing

Devotion by KentAndRebeccaCooley

All Rights Reserved

Click here to view today's video on youtube

OVERCOME EVIL WITH GOOD

Devotion: The Object of My Love

(Matthew 5:43-44; John 17:14; Romans 12:21; 1 Corinthians 13:5)

Don’t return evil for evil

Overcome evil with good

Love those who hate you

Do good to those who despitefully use you

and say all manner of evil against you falsely

They hated me and they’ll hate you

But I am telling you what to do

© LoveWalkMusic

WordsAndMusic by KentCliffordCooley

RADICAL LOVE / He Came To Love

This is the 4th of seven devotions 

with the theme from 1 Corinthians 13:5 

"Love Does Not Insist On It's Own Rights"

RADICAL LOVE

Song: He Came To Love

(Adapted from Matthew 5; 1 Corinthians 13:5)

Jesus has just formed his ministry team. He has just been baptized where the heavens opened and the voice of God spoke. The Holy Spirit has settled on him. And He has just fasted for 40 days and passed the character test of his moral fiber. These were major spiritual breakthroughs and it appeared to the crowds that Jesus was set up to establish an earthly kingdom.

Crowds were following Him. They were watching and listening. They anticipated a radical king taking his earthly throne and leading them all to triumph over their enemies. They were looking for a king to sweep them to victory.

But the next thing Jesus did was not what they expected. He sat down on the side of a mountain to talk and teach. The crowds gathered, probably expecting major instructions on what was going to happen next. Jesus began to teach them about giving up their rights. He taught them to relinquish their rights and practice walking in radical love!

“You are blessed when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you

and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers.

Be happy about it! Be very glad!”

Jesus' teaching was not familiar to them. Most people lived by the law and the law said that a Roman soldier could demand that anyone carry a load for them for one mile. It was also a law that the soldier could demand no more than a mile. Jesus said,

"If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles!"

Jesus could have continued,

"The first mile is obligation.

The second mile is to renounce your rights.

The second mile is love!"

Lord, just like the crowds on the mountainside wanted you to do radical things in their lives, I want you to do major things in my life. But I understand that the power lies in giving up my rights and walking and living in radical love. I am willing Lord; help me to recognize radical love and walk in it.

© LoveWalkPublishing

Devotion Authored by RebeccaAnnCooley

Click here to view today's video on youtube

HE CAME TO LOVE

Devotion: Radical Love

(Adapted from Matthew 5)

Verse

They were looking for a redeemer

Who would overthrow the Romans

And reclaim the throne of David

They ignored the Scriptures

That revealed a suffering Savior

Who would redeem their souls from sin

Chorus

He didn’t come to rule

He came to love

He didn’t come to overthrow

He came to undergo

The greatest expression of love ever given

He didn’t come to rule

He came to love . . .

Bridge

And He said, “Love the way I loved

Turn the other check

Go the extra mile

And He said, “Love the way I loved 

And relinquish your own rights and ways

© LoveWalkMusic

WordsAndMusic by KentCliffordCooley

BREAKING THE CYCLE OF HATE / Leave The Way Open

This is the the third of seven devotions

with the theme from 1 Corinthians 13:5

Love Does Not Insist On It's Own Rights

BREAKING THE CYCLE OF HATE 
by
Kent Clifford Cooley

(Adapted from Romans 12:19; 1 Corinthians 13:5)

We hear it on the news.  We read it in the paper every day.  Someone has been violated.  The victim then gets a gun and kills the one who has violated them, taking the law into their own hands.  Now, not only has the victim been violated, but the victim has become a violator. 

The above is a worst case scenario.  Someone loses his life because of resentment and retaliation, actually getting even with their advisory.  Getting even is actually a form of insisting on your rights.  There is a cycle of hatred that can take hold in a person’s life if he will not give up his rights and allow God to be his avenger.  This cycle of hatred starts small in little resentments and violations.  When the cycle of hate is left to turn over and over in a person’s life, destruction always occurs. 

The Book of Romans gives clear, precise instruction concerning vengeance.

“Never avenge yourselves, 

but leave the way open for God’s wrath:

 for it is written, vengeance is Mine, 

I will repay, says the Lord.”

There will be times in our lives when we are violated.  If we attempt to take revenge, we too, become a violator.  When we take the seat of accuser, judge and executioner, we close the door for God to deal with the one who has harmed us.  And more important, we lose the grace to forgive. 

Father, I commit my way to love today.  I break the cycle of hate that has tried to develop in my life by insisting on my own rights.  I relinquish my own rights and roll all of my care over on you.  I will not seek revenge when someone wrongs me.  I will forgive and I will walk in love with grace from my Savior.  Thank you Father, as I take this stand, you will remove wrong thinking in my heart and flood me with grace and power to forgive.

© LoveWalkPublishing 

Devotion Authored by KentCliffordCooley 

Click here to view today's music video on youtube

(Adapted from Romans 12:19; 1 Corinthians 13:5)

Verse

We hear it on the news; 

We read it in the paper every day

Someone done somebody wrong

So they went and got their gun 

And started shootin’

Chorus

Beloved never avenge yourselves, 

Don’t get back, don’t get even, 

Don’t retaliate 

(repeat)

Leave the way open for God’s wrath, 

He chastises those who are His, 

He chastises those who He loves

Leave the way open, 

Leave the way open for God’s wrath, 

Leave the way open for God’s love.

© LoveWalkMusic 

WordsAndMusic by KentCliffordCooley 

THE PLUMB LINE OF LOVE / GodIsLove (LoveIsNotInsistent)

This is the 2nd of 7 devotions and music videos

with the theme from 1 Corinthians 13:5

"Love Does Not Insist on It's Own Rights"

THE PLUMB LINE OF LOVE
by
Rebecca Cooley

(Adapted from 1 Cor. 13:5; Matthew 5:41-44)

Love holds accountable, but in the process, love requires us not to be insistent and demanding of our own way or our own rights, refusing to yield.  God’s love in us is not self-seeking.  It is not touchy or fretful or resentful and it pays no attention to a suffered wrong.  When life happens, it provides us with opportunities to walk in love.

We had been soaking in teaching on love constantly for months and an opportunity to insist on my own rights came up.  We had a verbal agreement with a landlord to do some improvements on her house and deduct the materials from the rent.  She reneged on her agreement and insisted on the full month’s rent.  I went over our agreement and then decided to bless her with the materials and the labor on the improvements.   Shortly after that we moved and blessed her with the full month’s rent instead of pro-rating the amount we owed.  The next house we moved into was completely rent free.  God blessed us with the nicest home we had ever lived in and we did not have to pay rent!  Instead of insisting on our rights, we turned it around and sowed the money in love.  We sowed rent money and reaped rent money immediately!  God is faithful to His Word and to His kingdom principles.

Father, where do I draw the line of holding accountable and not being insistent on my rights?  I want to walk in love but I don’t think I should be walked on.

Child of mine, do not resist the evil man who injures you.  If anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn your other cheek to him also.   And if anyone wants to sue you and take what you have, let him and give them more besides.  And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.  If someone keeps begging you for something, give it to them.  You have heard it said to love your neighbor and hate your enemy. I am telling you to love your enemies and pray for those who treat you wrongly.  There is no line.  The plumb line is love.  If you will line every action, every thought and every motive on the plumb line of love, you will release my blessings in your life.  That is a kingdom principle that I will not renege on.

© LoveWalkPublishing

Devotion Authored by RebeccaAnnCooley

Click here to view today's music video on youtube

GOD IS LOVE (LOVE IS NOT INSISTENT)

Devotion: Love is Not Insistent

(Adapted from 1 Cor. 13:5; Matthew 5:41-44; 1 John 4:16)

Verse:                        

Love does not insist on its own rights; Love does insist on its own way

Love is not self seeking; Love seeks not its own; I prefer my brother rather than myself

Chorus:

God is love; God is love

He who dwells and continues in love dwells and continues in God

And God dwells and continues in him

God is love; God is love

I dwell and continue in love and I dwell and continue in God

And God dwells and continues in me; God is love; God is love; God is love

© LoveWalkMusic WordsAndMusic by KentCliffordCooley 

LOVE'S INSTRUCTIONS / Debt of Love

This is the first of seven

devotions and music videos with the theme

from 1 Corinthians 13:5

"Love Does Not Insist On It's Own Rights"

LOVE'S INSTRUCTIONS

by

Kent Cooley

(Adapted from Romans 13:8; 1 Corinthians 13:5)

When someone does me wrong, selfishness shouts, “They owe me an apology!”  But love whispers, “Do not insist on your own rights.  Do good to those who despitefully use you.”  Love instructs me to say “I am the debtor.  I owe every man, including the one who does me wrong, a debt of love.”  Paul stated in the book of Romans,

“Owe no man anything, except to love one another.”

When someone slaps me on the right cheek I owe them the debt of love to turn my other cheek.  When someone asks me to go one mile, I owe them a debt of love to go two.  This concept Jesus taught at the Sermon on the Mount gives practical instruction that as life happens to us, always take action on the side of love.  Our choices to walk it out in love determine whether the windows of heaven will open to us or not.

Father, I examine my life and see where I have fallen short of love’s instructions.  I repent and realign myself with love, so that I may not react to someone else’s actions. With Your help I will respond to every action inside of Your love.  Let Your love flow through me today to everyone I meet.  Help me to look beyond their faults and see their need.  May they see the manifestation of Your love expressed through me today.

“My child, I paid the greatest debt of love on the cross for every man.  I am love.  When you walk in love, you walk in Me, and I am moved and motivated to love through you.”

Click here to view today's music video on youtube

DEBT OF LOVE

Devotion: Love’s Instructions

(Adapted from Romans 12:17-18, 21; 13:8, Matthew 5; 1 Corinthians 13:5)

Verse 1

Owe no man anything accept to love him

Owe no one anything accept to show them the grace of God

Chorus

Debt of love I owe, Debt of love I’ll pay

When someone does me wrong that’s ok

I’ll pay them back according to the debt of love I owe,

According to the debt of love I owe, according to the debt of love I owe.

Bridge

Don’t return evil for evil, overcome evil with good

Turn the other cheek, go the extra mile

That’s what love says to do.

© LoveWalkMusic WordsAndMusic by KentCliffordCooley Devotion by KentCliffordCooley