14 Aug God’s Banner over us is Love!
August 13, 2023
God’s Banner over us is Love!
He brought me to the banqueting house, and his Banner over me was love [for love waved as a protecting and comforting banner over my head when I was near him]. Song of Solomon 2:4
God’s Banner over us is Love!
Today’s opening scripture comes from the book Song of Solomon, a love song written in metaphors and imagery. Still, allegorically it pictures Israel as God’s betrothed bride (Hos 2:19-20) and the church as the bride of Christ. Saw the famous Bud Billiken parade on television yesterday, and each group/person had some Banner on display. They were representing their schools, agencies, and community groups from all over the country. God’s Banner is more than an identifier for us; it protects, comforts us, and announces to everyone who sees us that we are His publicly and privately.
The Realm of Love
I learned many years ago that “Love is on the lover.” People can love you and do everything they can for you or do absolutely nothing and say I love you. A person in love can overlook a fault, throw your shortcoming in your face, and say I love you too. When I became a believer, I learned a better way that there is a love realm that believers come into when we accept Jesus Christ as Lord. That love is a commandment, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35
In Christianity, agape is “the highest form of love, charity” and “the love of God for man and of man for God the internet definition says. “It is a love that is selfless, patient, and kind. It does not envy, and it does not boast; it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered; it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. As E.W. Kenyon says,” The New Creation is created out of love. It is created in Christ Jesus.”
Love Yourself
Well, we cannot adequately love anyone else until we love ourselves. When was the last time you spoke words of affirmation to yourself? God does it all the time throughout the Bible. “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” Ephesians 2:10 Oh yea, you are all that and more. “You are altogether beautiful, my darling; there is no flaw in you.” – Song of Solomon 4:7, and you are intelligent, accomplished, and wise. “To acquire wisdom is to love yourself; people who cherish understanding will prosper.” – Proverb 19:18 This is not being arrogant or prideful; it is knowing whose you are and who you are. God wants us to walk through life loving ourselves too.
Walk in Love
Sometimes life circumstances will try to bring out a side of us that is not so loving toward others; don’t let it! Love serves. Love is a decision, and we must decide to walk in love no matter the circumstances or what a person has done, or we have done. We are God’s representative on earth, waving our Banner like the parade participants I saw yesterday. Ephesians 5:1-2 AMPC “Therefore become imitators of God [copy Him and follow His example], as well-beloved children [imitate their father]; and walk continually in love [that is, value one another–practice empathy and compassion, unselfishly seeking the best for others], just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and sacrifice to God [slain for you, so that it became] a sweet fragrance.”
God will walk us through any difficulty we face in our love walk, and He knows our personality. He can bring a solution that will work so well that you will forget any challenge and not get offended by unloving situations. Lord Jesus, please help us all to walk in love like you today and everyday💕
Theresa Woodard
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