Love: The Highest Form of Intelligence and Growth

Love is more than just a feeling—it's a gateway to higher intelligence. When we practice love, we cultivate emotional and spiritual growth. In contrast, hatred drags us into a state of ignorance and self-destruction.

But what exactly is "hate"? Leviticus 19:17 gives us insight: "Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbor, and not suffer sin upon him." In simple terms, hate involves standing by while others harm themselves—mentally, emotionally, or spiritually.

When you hate, you allow others to continue destructive behaviors without offering help or guidance. Instead of encouraging growth or positive change, you let someone deteriorate in their unhealthy thoughts and actions. This inaction is a form of neglect, even spiritual harm.

The Bible teaches that "the strength of sin is the law" (1 Corinthians 15:56). The religious laws of Moses represented a rigid code of conduct, which—if misinterpreted—could lead to self-condemnation and judgment. Galatians 3:11 reminds us, "No man is justified by the law in the sight of God." Thus, hate can manifest as allowing others to suffer under outdated or unhealthy mental and emotional "laws" they've created for themselves, or follow within the religious world.

When you allow someone to continue on a destructive path, you’re essentially letting them destroy their own self-worth and spiritual health. This is the ultimate form of hatred—not helping them break free from their self-imposed limitations.

In contrast, love is about building up and supporting others. According to 1 Thessalonians 4:9, "Ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another." This is reinforced in 1 Thessalonians 5:11: "Comfort yourselves together, and edify one another."

To love someone is to lift them up, edify their mind, and help them recognize their true value. Love is the act of showing others the path away from self-destruction and toward self-discovery.

When we love, we challenge ourselves to grow by helping others. We increase in personal understanding, discipline, and wisdom. Love forces us to confront our own emotions and experiences, making us more effective in uplifting others.

Loving others isn’t just about them—it’s also about your own growth. As you empathize and help others through their struggles, you deepen your own understanding of life's challenges and how to overcome them. Love is a reminder of where we've been and where we're going.

When you love, you're practicing self-awareness and emotional intelligence. You're making conscious decisions that enhance both your life and the lives of those around you. Love leads to understanding and unity, while hate results in division and loss.

True love doesn't come with expectations or fears. When we love authentically, we enrich our own lives and contribute positively to the world around us. Love leads to clarity of purpose, while hate clouds judgment and leads to misunderstanding.

In the end, the message is simple: just love. Love leads to personal growth, deeper understanding, and a positive influence on those around us. It helps you erase negative patterns and replace them with wisdom. Love is the ultimate key to unlocking your true potential and helping others do the same.

If you're seeking clarity, peace, and purpose, start with love. By doing so, you'll gain personal and devotional growth that not only enhances your life, but also the lives of everyone you encounter.

The True Voice of Faith: The Bible's Wisdom Beyond Theology

“Who among you fears the LORD and obeys the voice of his servant, yet walks in darkness and has no light? Let him trust in the name of the LORD and rely on his God.” - Isaiah 50:10.

Have you ever pondered what it means to truly hear the “voice” of the living God? The Bible challenges us to go beyond superficial understandings and to plunge into its deeper essence—a journey not just of listening, but of discerning and acting upon the “voice” at the center of the Bible. Yet, it’s crucial to notice that the Bible does not encourage us to worship some ideal connected to it. Instead, it calls us to trust in the wisdom and philosophy of its “voice,” which “voice” is synonymous with the “name” of the living God.

The Bible separates its philosophy from the religious world’s theology. It doesn’t ask us to idolize or blindly follow a figure; rather, it emphasizes valuing the speech—the doctrine—of that servant. This distinction is key: this servant’s wisdom, not their person, holds the transformative power. In 1 Corinthians 4:6, it’s written, “Learn in us not to think of men above that which is written.” Similarly, John 15:20 states, “The servant is not greater than his lord.” These verses make it clear that the voice and not the servant or minister is to be prioritized, guiding us to treasure the Bible’s words rather than elevate an individual.

To truly follow the Bible’s guidance, our faith must recognize this “voice”—a voice rooted in wisdom and spiritual understanding, as stated in Colossians 1:9: “The knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.” This voice isn’t about leading our belief to blessings; instead, it’s about letting our belief guide us into receiving the blessing. When aligned with this voice, our belief, and even our disbelief, becomes a powerful instrument of edification.

Our responsibility to edify one another is found in Mark 12:31: “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” Yet, true edification begins within. We cannot effectively love or edify others if our understanding is not first nurtured and guided by this voice. Luke 6:41 asks, “And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye?” Our ability to help others hinges on our own spiritual clarity and self-awareness.

Faith is more than just a spiritual connection; it is a dynamic force meant to express our unique capacity to edify. According to 1 Corinthians 14:10-11, there are countless voices in the world, each with significance. Understanding the “meaning of the voice” within the Bible is crucial, as it transforms us from being mere speakers to being true edifiers, fostering growth in ourselves and others.

Our faith exists not just to affirm a belief but to manifest a distinct capability to “love”—to build up and strengthen. This potential becomes reality through a disciplined engagement with the voice at the heart of the scriptures. As noted in 1 Timothy 1:5, “The end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned.” This process of faith’s refinement and growth is what enables us to fulfill our highest potential in both personal and communal contexts.

We must ask ourselves: Are we truly edifying according to the Bible’s standard? If not, what voice is guiding our actions? Recognizing and embracing the Bible’s voice, and especially the voice transferred to us from the living God’s chief apostle, allows our faith to flourish and guides us toward our greatest personal and spiritual potential. It’s a call to humble ourselves for the sake of our faith’s higher learning, ensuring that our faith is rooted not in surface-level beliefs, but in the useful knowledge of the Bible’s wisdom.

Faith is not static; it has a character that must be discovered and nurtured. It holds thoughts, feelings, and a distinct purpose that can only be fully realized through an intimate understanding of the living God’s voice. This journey is about more than acquiring knowledge; it’s about embodying the Bible’s fact, moving beyond the superficial learning cautioned in 2 Timothy 3:7, “Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

Your faith has a voice that it needs to hear and respond to—a voice that guides it toward edification and purpose, which voice Isaiah 42:4 emphasizes: “The isles shall wait for his law.” It’s our responsibility to ensure that our belief is guided by this understanding, allowing it to develop into its fullest expression to fulfill its purpose. Take the time to cultivate this understanding, for it is in this voice that the true essence of your faith and its capacity to bless others will be realized.

The Power of Informed Hope

Worry and anxiety often stem from a deep-seated desire to control the uncontrollable. When we face variables that we inherently cannot manage, our minds spiral into a state of apprehension. This loss of control can lead us to act out of character, revealing our raw, untrained selves.

Our reactions to stress and frustration expose our true character. When we can't control a situation, our anxiety and unease surface. We may present a calm demeanor when things are going well, but challenging circumstances reveal our mental instability and uneducated character. This exposure is particularly stark when we desire a beneficial outcome but are unable to influence events as we wish.

Recognizing our true character in these moments is difficult. However, there are strategies to make this realization more bearable. The key lies in exercising faith and hope. Faith is often touted as the solution to anxiety, but understanding what faith truly means is crucial.

Faith is defined as "the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1). In essence, faith is the result of hope. If we are anxious or worried, it's not because we lack faith, but because our hope is not well-founded.

To develop genuine faith, we must first cultivate informed hope. This process starts with knowledge. Paul emphasizes the importance of understanding in Ephesians 1:17-18, where he prays for wisdom and revelation to guide minds into knowing the hope of their calling. Knowledge enlightens our understanding and informs our hope.

An educated hope alleviates anxiety because it is based on a solid foundation of knowledge. Proverbs 11:9 and Isaiah 53:11 highlight the deliverance and justification that comes through knowledge. To have faith in anything, we need to understand what we are placing our hope in.

Our first step is to seek knowledge about what we hope for. This informed hope leads to a full and unwavering faith. When our hope is educated, it eliminates the root causes of worry and anxiety. An intelligent hope, purified by understanding, will not lead to unease.

Practical Steps to Develop Informed Hope:

1. Seek Knowledge: Understand what you are hoping for. Explore the reasons behind your hope.

2. Educate Your Hope: Ensure your hope is based on solid, factual knowledge rather than emotional willpower or misinformation.

3. Build Confidence: Let your informed hope guide you towards a stable and confident belief.

To overcome worry and anxiety, we must focus on building an informed hope. Faith, as the culmination of this hope, will naturally follow. By educating our hope, we create a foundation that is not easily shaken by life's uncontrollable variables. This approach not only alleviates anxiety but also leads to a healthier, more active life. So, before you tell yourself or someone else to "have faith," remember that you first need to seek knowledge and understand what you hope for. This informed hope will pave the way for a steadfast faith, free from worry and anxiety.