Be More

I recently asked God what areas of my life I specifically need to work on and instead of dumping all the “fine tunings” that my imperfect self needs, He led me to the 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NASB

Me reading: “Love is patient—”

God: “Stop right there. I want you to break-down this passage and focus on one aspect of love each day. Today, look at your personality towards others. Is there an area that you are lacking patience? Maybe it is with someone who has a trying personality or maybe it is yourself—maybe you need to give yourself time to grow and continue to transform to whom I’ve called you to be.”

Patient: bearing pains or trials calmly or without complaint
: not hasty or impetuous
: steadfast despite opposition, difficulty or adversity

Over the next several weeks, I’m going to read through 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 and am going to break-down and meditate on each part of what love truly is and should be. Follow along on my Instagram account: https://www.instagram.com/onthecliffoflife/

Side Note:

This last weekend, I read these verses with someone I know, and they stated, “In all my life, I have NEVER met a person who has succeeded at all of these testaments of love.”

My response: “Maybe it was meant for us to meditate on before we speak or respond, so that our words would be spoken through the filter of love. Maybe it is something for us to strive for—a goal.”

Their response: “I like the verse, ‘Cease striving and know that I am God.’ So, we shouldn’t be ‘striving.’” (Psalm 46:10 NASB)

My response: “I do believe that we are not to strive to a point of self-condemnation or guilt, but shouldn’t we try to be better than who we were yesterday?” (If God didn’t believe in change, then He wouldn’t have sent His Son to die for us, in the hope that we all would one day come to know Him and be transformed in the forgiveness that He so willingly gives)

Their response: “That is true and a different version of the Bible—the Amplified—translates Psalm 46:10 to ‘Be still and know that I am God.’

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I find it interesting that “strive” has two definitions…

Strive: to devote serious effort or energy; endeavor
Strive: to struggle in opposition; contend

So, the “striving” in Psalm 46:10 is most likely to struggle in opposition. “Cease struggling and know that I am God” or “Cease contending and know that I am God.”

The amplified version says to “be still” and I just had to break-down that word as well.

Still: calm, tranquil

“Be calm and know that I am God.”

It is amazing to dive more into the definitions of what we once imagined the true meaning of a word or verse. Where I was considering that we should strive to be better, as in, “devoting serious effort or endeavoring,” the person I was conversing with considered that Psalm 46:10 meant the same thing—which endeavoring and contending are opposite in meaning. #HearIGoAgain

Endeavor
- to work with set purpose
- to attempt (something, such as the fulfillment of an obligation) by exertion of effort
Contend
- to strive in debate: argue
- struggle

Sources: Word definitions from Merriam Webster Online Dictionary, Bible verses from NASB & AMP

Be More.

This is not what you expected me to say, is it? In a world that pushes the “be yourself” and “you are great just the way you are” movement, this may sound like a shocker to you. Well, stay with me here…there is a deep meaning behind these two words…

For Instance:

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When someone you know stumbles in their walk of life.

Be More.

Encourage them to overcome that obstacle in their path.

Don’t push them down in an accusing tone. Help them. Encourage to be more, as you, yourself become more than the normal responses of everyday people in everyday life.

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When someone has great accomplishments in life, be more than the everyday human/fleshly/jealous response.

Be More.

Don’t search for their flaws and try to bring them down by bringing attention to their imperfections. Be more. Be happy for them. Congratulate them.

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When someone has a different personality than you. Love them, quirks and all, for we as the body of Christ, have been uniquely made.

Body of Christ.

A body is composed of different parts that have their own purpose. A hand cannot expect the foot to do exactly as it does, but it has a purpose in the body. Same way, everyone in the body of Christ has a different purpose but the same goal. This goal is to follow God and serve him in the unique way that He made them…that He made you.

Be More.

Ask God what part of the body your brother or sister in Christ is and how you can encourage them to be who God intended them to be…NOT how God intended YOU to be (*remember the hand and the foot*).

Be More.

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Here are some verses to remember in your “be more” movement (the mission, should you choose to accept it):

“Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11 NASB
“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” Ephesians 4:29 NIV
“Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.” Philippians 2:3-4
“A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.” Proverbs 11:25 NIV
“The soothing tongue is a tree of life…” Proverbs 15:4 NIV
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” Proverbs 18:21 NASB
“Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” Proverbs 16:24 NASB

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Tag: Be More

Love is…

Be More…