WEEK 5, DAY 3 OF CHOOSING GOD INSTEAD OF THE WORLD, A LOVE GOD GREATLY STUDY
Scripture Reading: Genesis 44; John 15:12-13; 1 John 1:8-2:2 (SOAP – John 15:12-13)
12 This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. 13 There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. NLT
OBSERVATION:
THE GENESIS SAGA:
Joseph is still not ready to reveal his true identity to the brothers but is obviously wanting to keep Benjamin with him and continue to show compassion to the brothers and Jacob. However, Judah and the brothers are committed to keeping Benjamin safe and from causing their father further grief, so they replay the scenario to Joseph and plead for him to understand and relent.
Judah shows great sacrificial love by offering himself in the place of Benjamin, not just for the sake of Benjamin but in order that Jacob would not suffer more grief.
Me – from the Inside-out –
APPLICATION: HOW THEN SHOULD WE LIVE?
Today’s focus passage and application might appear to be simple – “Love one another”. Yet, the passage doesn’t stop there, nor should we. To truly understand how to apply today’s passages we must read the entire focus passage from John 15:12-13 – “My commandment is this – to love one another just as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this — that one lays down his life for his friends.” We see this played out in the life of Jesus, who loved us so much that He laid down His life for us – vile, guilty sinners, enemies of His Father, We also see a similar love offered by Judah on behalf of his father Benjamin. In light of this, how then should we live? We should not simply love one another but we should “Love one another, just as Christ has loved us.” (John 13:34)
Prayer: Response to God’s Word
Father, please help us to love like Jesus. I confess it, most often, seems like an impossible application but I remember the words of Jesus to His early disciples – “with man [this] is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”Matt 19:26 This truth, fittingly applied to all Scriptures that teach seemingly impossible tasks for man, brings much hope. May Your Spirit in us produce this Love and all else You have called us to do in Jesus’ name. – Amen –
YOUR TURN:PERSONAL REFLECTIONS
- Why is self-sacrifice the greatest display of love?
- How was Judah’s willingness to sacrifice himself for Benjamin a foreshadowing of what as to come in Christ?