Welcome to another day the Lord has made that we should rejoice and be glad in. (Psalms 118:24)

Today let’s focus on labouring to live righteously for God.

Today’s scripture, Proverbs 10:16 (KJV) advises…
[16] The labour of the righteous tendeth to life: The fruit of the wicked to sin.

Consider…
Yesterday we pointed out Oxford Languages defines the verb labour, to work hard; make great effort.

Applying that definition to today’s verse means we should work hard or make great effort to live rightly with God in order to live successfully through Him.

Psalms 1:1-3 (ERV) emphasizes…
[1] Great blessings belong to those who don’t listen to evil advice, who don’t live like sinners, and who don’t join those who make fun of God. [2] Instead, they love the Lord’s teachings and think about them day and night. [3] So they grow strong, like a tree planted by a stream— a tree that produces fruit when it should and has leaves that never fall. Everything they do is successful.

Notice this passage reveals the secret to success in loving and meditating on God’s teachings.

This immediately took my mind to Joshua 1:8 (ERV), which says…
[8] Always remember what is written in that book of law. Speak about that book and study it day and night. Then you can be sure to obey what is written there. If you do this, you will be wise and successful in everything you do.

Clearly, focusing on what God tells us to do is the key to successful living. But what is success?

Oxford Languages defines success as the accomplishment of an aim or purpose.

That means our view of success is determined by our aim or purpose. As goal driven people, we get that.

This begs the question, what does God say our aim should be? Micah 6:8 (NLT) answers…
[8] the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.

So are you working hard and making a good effort to…

• Do what is right? (James 4:17)
• Love mercy? (James 2:13)
• Walk humbly with God? (James 4:16)

At times, doing these requirements may seem too daunting. However, 2 Peter 1:3-4 (ERV) reminds us…
[3] Jesus has the power of God. And his power has given us everything we need to live a life devoted to God. We have these things because we know him. Jesus chose us by his glory and goodness, [4] through which he also gave us the very great and rich gifts that he promised us. With these gifts you can share in being like God. And so you will escape the ruin that comes to people in the world because of the evil things they want.

The Holy Spirit is flashing in big bold neon letters…

CHRIST IS THE ONE WHO GIVES ME THE STRENGTH I NEED TO DO WHATEVER I MUST DO. – Philippians 4:13.ERV

So what does our strength coach tell us to do? Well in John 15:10-11 (ERV), Jesus says…
[10] I have obeyed my Father’s commands, and he continues to love me. In the same way, if you obey my commands, I will continue to love you. [11] I have told you these things so that you can have the true happiness that I have. I want you to be completely happy.

One thing I like about Jesus is that He doesn’t leave us wondering what commands He’s referring to, in the very next verse He says…
This is what I command you: Love each other as I have loved you. – John.15:12 ERV

I find it intriguing that loving like Jesus loves us is what God requires. Could it be because God is Love? 1 John 4:8-10 (ERV) explains…
[8] Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. [9] This is how God showed his love to us: He sent his only Son into the world to give us life through him. [10] True love is God’s love for us, not our love for God. He sent his Son as the way to take away our sins.

God’s standard and example of love is something to think about.

While you’re thinking about God’s love, consider the attributes listed in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (ERV) which are…
[4] Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous, it does not brag, and it is not proud. [5] Love is not rude, it is not selfish, and it cannot be made angry easily. Love does not remember wrongs done against it. [6] Love is never happy when others do wrong, but it is always happy with the truth. [7] Love never gives up on people. It never stops trusting, never loses hope, and never quits.

If you replace love with Jesus, these verses show the standard and expectation of love that God wants us to work hard and make a good effort to have and give to others.

Wow, it just dawned on me, the true and complete happiness that Jesus emphasizes in John 15:11, is sandwich between loving obedience in verse 10 and replication in verse 12. 🤯

Jesus literally just taught me that obeying and replicating His love is the key to success, which is…

• Doing the right thing
• Showing mercy
• Walking humbly with God

That’s literally what Christ did while He walked the earth.

So today, work hard and make a good effort to love God and others like Jesus loved Him and you. Then you will live a life, like Jesus did, that is pleasing to God.

Remember, Jesus’ love is the key. Therefore let it make you…

• Do right by and according to God
• Show others the mercy you’ve received
• Walk humbly and gratefully with God

A final thought just popped into my mind, regarding another benefit of being right with God, which is our prayers will be successful. Proverbs 15:29 (ERV) clarifies…
[29] The Lord is far away from the wicked, but he always hears the prayers of those who do what is right.

So today, work hard and make a good effort to be successful by living and loving right like Jesus, who is God’s standard!

Living according to Jesus’ loving standard should be our aim, because any other standard is living in vain.

Today’s Song is…
Love Like Jesus

Blessings 4HG (1 Corinthians 10:31)