This is taken from my daily inductive devotional, dated February 8, 1 Corinthians 13:4b. I hope you enjoy it.
WORD STUDIES
Love: #26 Greek (agape)
To love; the love that originates from God; the kind of love that is inclined to do good, kind, charitable acts. When speaking of God’s love for man, it means that God does what is best for mankind not necessarily what man wants. For example, John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, so that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” The Greeks have more than our one word for love. Phileo speaks of the love between friends; eros is the love a man has for a woman, an adoring love. God showed His love for man by giving what he needed for salvation: His own Son’s life. That is agape love; benevolent love.
Arrogant: #5448 Greek (phusioo)
To inflate, breathe. To blow or puff up with pride or conceit so as to elevate oneself above another. Unwarranted pride, haughtiness.
CROSS-REFERENCES
Psalm 119:21
Thou dost rebuke the arrogant, the cursed, who wander from Thy commandments.
Proverbs 14:21
A wise man is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool is arrogant and careless.
Proverbs 28:25-26
An arrogant man stirs up strife, but he who trusts in the Lord will prosper. He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but he who walks wisely will be delivered.
1 Corinthians 4:4-7
For I am conscious of nothing against myself, yet I am not by this acquitted; but the one who examines me is the Lord. Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men's hearts; and then each man's praise will come to him from God. Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively applied to myself and Apollos for your sakes, so that in us you may learn not to exceed what is written, so that no one of you will become arrogant in behalf of one against the other. For who regards you as superior? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?
OBSERVATION AND APPLICATION
1. Dear child of God, have you ever seen a hot air balloon? It is so full of itself, isn’t it? It is a funny analogy of one who is arrogant; it is puffed up with its own hot air! That is exactly what arrogance is—hot air! Isaiah 37:29 tells you that your arrogance rises to the ears of God; just like a hot air balloon. Ask the Lord to take His big sharp-pointed sword and pop your arrogant balloon! See that balloon release the hot air and humbly float back to earth. Pride is the machine that puffs you up with arrogance. Knowing that everything you are and have is a gift from God humbles you and keeps you ‘well-grounded’.
2. Where is your balloon today? Is it on the ground or soaring somewhere high in the sky?
1. Spend the remainder of your devotion time pondering this truth. Let the Lord minister to you. Allow the love of God to inflate you!
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