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 Thus, hate can manifest as allowing others to suffer under outdated or unhealthy mental and emotional "laws" they've created for themselves, or follow within the religious world.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.

Renew Your Mind And Sing

"I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being. My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD." Psalm 104:33-34

When life seems empty, and nothing positive comes to mind, let the praise of the living God become your song. What is this praise? Psalm 105:1 teaches us: "Give thanks unto the LORD; call upon his name," and Psalm 105:3 adds, "Glory ye in his holy name." But this is more than simple gratitude. Psalm 103:3-5 reminds us of a deeper work: "Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies."

The living God's "praise" is not an act of worship; it is the very essence of the living God’s "name" – a benevolent character that offers healing, restoration, and renewal. Yet, we must understand that this "name" is not a physical attribute, as its nature transcends the material world: "God is a Spirit" (John 4:24), and "a spirit hath not flesh and bones" (Luke 24:39). What we are given by the living God, therefore, is spiritual – intended for the mind, not the flesh, reminding us that "that which is born of the Spirit is spirit" (John 3:6). The renewing of our mind, as Paul counsels, is central to understanding this, because the saying, "Be renewed in the spirit of your mind" (Ephesians 4:23), reveals that our transformation starts within.

This praise is not about religious observance but rather about living in alignment with the Bible’s spiritual wisdom. In the Bible, this "name" is often synonymous with a "faith" or understanding, as it says, "Thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith" (Revelation 2:3). To praise the living God’s name is to embrace that “name’s” will and wisdom in our personal and devotional life, moving beyond ritual to inward renewal.

In this freedom, our minds are opened to the true "praise" of God – not merely in words, but in a complete transformation of our inner self. As we allow the Bible’s words to dwell richly within us, the devotional experience becomes a reflection of its grace and wisdom. This is the essence of true worship – not really in literal song, but in the very fabric of our being, which is why it says, “The true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth” (John 4:23).

To sing that “praise,” then, is not an external act but an internal state of being. It is a heart and mind united in the Bible’s truth and wisdom, continually renewing and transforming. Each day is an opportunity for us to learn more about ourselves and the Bible’s will, and through this knowledge, to better serve and edify those around us. The living God's praise is a process of self-discovery, and through this process, we discover our purpose – to love, to serve, and to grow.

Even when life feels negative, we must remember that all things are working to recover and restore our mind and heart, introducing us to a higher understanding of ourselves and our world. The Bible desires to cleanse our devotional conscience, freeing us from the burdens we have inherited or cultivated ourselves. This is not just for our own well-being but for the benefit of those around us: "The end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart" (1 Timothy 1:5).

So, let every day be a celebration of this renewal – a chance to think differently, to feel more deeply, and to live more fully. Let our hearts sing not with an audible tune, but with the quiet confidence of knowing that we are being transformed by the living God's fact. Each breath we take is a testament to this faith in us, and in return, we should strive to live up to that understanding, seeking the living God’s “name” and praising it through our thoughts, words, and actions.

In this way, we become part of the greater song – a symphony of renewal, hope, and wisdom that carries us, and those we love, ever closer to the living God’s heart.

How The Bible Reveals a Revolution of Personal Devotional Transformation

When reflecting on the stories of Moses and the Exodus, Samson and the two pillars, Gideon’s war against Baal, Abraham’s journey, and Joseph’s rise to power in Egypt, what stands out? These narratives represent more than just historical events—they signal a revolution and resurrection of devotional thought. They challenge us to consider a deeper devotional revival.

At the heart of the Bible is the concept of an inward resurrection, a transformation of our devotional conversation’s inner being. King David, recognizing this profound truth, wrote in Psalm 51:6, “Thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.” The core message of the Bible is a resurrection driven by wisdom and knowledge. As 1 Samuel 2:3 declares, “The LORD is a God of knowledge,” and Proverbs 2:6 reminds us that “out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.”

The Bible’s wisdom is the fuel for inner revival. The Bible is not ultimately a collection of stories, but rather a message with a call to revive and reshape our devotional thoughts and feelings. Proverbs 1:23 affirms, “I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.” From Genesis to Malachi, the focus remains on this inward transformation of the mind through the Bible’s wisdom.

However, when we transition to the New Testament, the language and philosophy shifts, influenced by the dominant Greek culture and religious thought. Despite this shift, the original message remains hidden beneath the surface. Luke 17:21, for instance, tells us, “The kingdom of God is within you,” echoing Ruth 2:4, “The LORD be with you.” These two verses are not different in meaning but convey the same core message. The “kingdom of God” isn’t a new concept. To the Greek it was called the “doctrine of the kingdom,” but to the Hebrew it was called the “science of the LORD.”

Here’s the fascinating part: the Bible plays with these terms to keep its message accessible yet profound. “The LORD” and “the kingdom” are essentially one and the same—they represent the experience of the Bible’s words within our devotional character. Yet, because of religious tradition and theological interpretations, we often fail to see this continuity.

This philosophical expression is captured in the word “Immanuel,” meaning “God is with us,” or more directly, “within us is God” (Isaiah 8:10). Understanding this helps us reclaim the Bible’s original intention—a focus on the inward, personal devotional experience, untainted by external religious structures.

So why is it essential to grasp that the “kingdom of God” predated the New Testament? Because as we move through the Bible, especially into the Greek-influenced gospels, we encounter distortions of the original Hebrew philosophy. If we aren’t rooted in the wisdom of the Old Testament, we risk misunderstanding the message. As Isaiah 45:21 says, “There is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me.”

The Greek-influenced reinterpretation of the Bible’s message led to a distortion of the original Hebrew philosophy, especially regarding the nature of God. This shift wasn’t just a religious one but a philosophical one, altering how people understood their relationship with the scriptures. Even though the landscape of religious interpretation has changed over time, the original intent remains intact and waiting to be rediscovered.

This shift in biblical interpretation mirrors what happens in secular history: those in power shape the narrative. In the same way, the Bible’s original philosophy has been overshadowed by religious and political agendas. Understanding this is vital if we are to reclaim the Bible’s true devotional experience and engage with it in a way that transforms our personal and devotional character.

The Bible calls for more than belief—it calls for a revolution of the heart and mind, a resurrection of our inner dialogue with the Bible. By returning to its original message, we open ourselves to a wisdom that revives, restores, and reshapes our lives.