Good morning,

The festival of Purim celebrates God’s deliverance from a plot to destroy all the Jews. This year the celebration begins on the evening of 16 March and ends on the evening of 17 March.

This week we will look at Chapters 1-3. The fall of Vashti, the rise of Esther, and the promotion and wicked plan of Haman. Please read these chapters for the full story.

Chapter Outline for Book of Esther

Chapter 1 The Fall of Queen Vashti

“But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s commandment by his chamberlains: therefore was the king very wroth, and his anger burned in him.” (1:12)

“If it please the king, let there go a royal commandment from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it be not altered, That Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate unto another that is better than she.²⁰ And when the king’s decree which he shall make shall be published throughout all his empire, (for it is great,) all the wives shall give to their husbands honor, both to great and small.²¹ And the saying pleased the king and the princes; and the king did according to the word of Memucan:” (1:19-21)

Chapter 2 The Rise of Esther

“Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, was come to go in unto the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king’s chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed. And Esther obtained favor in the sight of all them that looked upon her.16 So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.17 And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti. (2:15-17)

Chapter 3 The rise of Haman and his wicked plot to destroy the Jews

“After these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him.2 And all the king’s servants, that were in the king’s gate, bowed, and reverenced Haman: for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence.” (3:1-2)

“And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath.6 And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had shewed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai.” (3:5-6)

These three chapters give us the, who, what, when, where, and why for the Book of Esther.

So far we know that the king is easily swayed by his advisors, that his new queen is a Jew, that Mordecai will not bow down or worship anything but the one true God, and Haman hates Jews.

The rest of the book tells us what happens to the Jews, Haman, and Esther.

Come back next week to find out what happens next.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

Good morning,

The festival of Purim celebrates God’s deliverance from a plot to destroy all the Jews. This year the celebration begins on the evening of 16 March and ends on the evening of 17 March.

Today we will look at Chapter 1. The fall of Vashti.

CHAPTER 1

Ahasuerus’ Banquet (1-8)

Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus, (this is Ahasuerus which reigned, from India even unto Ethiopia, over an hundred and seven and twenty provinces:)² That in those days, when the king Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the palace,³ In the third year of his reign, he made a feast unto all his princes and his servants; the power of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces, being before him:⁴ When he shewed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honor of his excellent majesty many days, even an hundred and fourscore days.⁵ And when these days were expired, the king made a feast unto all the people that were present in Shushan the palace, both unto great and small, seven days, in the court of the garden of the king’s palace;⁶ Where were white, green, and blue, hangings, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and pillars of marble: the beds were of gold and silver, upon a pavement of red, and blue, and white, and black, marble.⁷ And they gave them drink in vessels of gold, (the vessels being diverse one from another,) and royal wine in abundance, according to the state of the king.⁸ And the drinking was according to the law; none did compel: for so the king had appointed to all the officers of his house, that they should do according to every man’s pleasure.

Vashti’s Banquet (9)

Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women in the royal house which belonged to king Ahasuerus.

Vashti’s Refusal to Come at the King’s Command and its Consequences (10-22)

 On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven chamberlains that served in the presence of Ahasuerus the king,¹¹ To bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown royal, to shew the people and the princes her beauty: for she was fair to look on. ¹² But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s commandment by his chamberlains: therefore was the king very wroth, and his anger burned in him.¹³ Then the king said to the wise men, which knew the times, (for so was the king’s manner toward all that knew law and judgment:¹⁴ And the next unto him was Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, which saw the king’s face, and which sat the first in the kingdom;)¹⁵ What shall we do unto the queen Vashti according to law, because she hath not performed the commandment of the king Ahasuerus by the chamberlains?¹⁶ And Memucan answered before the king and the princes, Vashti the queen hath not done wrong to the king only, but also to all the princes, and to all the people that are in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus.¹⁷ For this deed of the queen shall come abroad unto all women, so that they shall despise their husbands in their eyes, when it shall be reported, The king Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she came not.¹⁸ Likewise shall the ladies of Persia and Media say this day unto all the king’s princes, which have heard of the deed of the queen. Thus shall there arise too much contempt and wrath.¹⁹ If it please the king, let there go a royal commandment from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it be not altered, That Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate unto another that is better than she.²⁰ And when the king’s decree which he shall make shall be published throughout all his empire, (for it is great,) all the wives shall give to their husbands honor, both to great and small.²¹ And the saying pleased the king and the princes; and the king did according to the word of Memucan:²² For he sent letters into all the king’s provinces, into every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language, that every man should bear rule in his own house, and that it should be published according to the language of every people.

The lesson here is that Vashti disobeyed the King’s command. The result is that she would no longer be queen. To obey or disobey always have consequences.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

Good morning,

The festival of Purim celebrates God’s deliverance from a plot to destroy all the Jews. This year the celebration begins on the evening of 16 March and ends on the evening of 17 March. Today we will look at the key players in the Book of Esther.

The Book of Esther

The Festival of Purim

Key players:

Ahasuerus: King of Persia. He reigned from 485-465 BC. The book of Esther portrays him as ruling a vast empire, being very wealthy, being sensual, continually giving feasts, and being cruel and acutely lacking in foresight (1:13-22). Ahasuerus banished his queen, Vashti, taking two years to find a replacement. (The Liberty Annotated Study Bible, 1988)

Vashti: Queen to King Ahasuerus. Refused the King’s command to appear before the King. She is removed as queen.

Mordecai: The hero of the Book of Esther. He was a resident of Susa (Shushan), the Persian capital during the reign of Ahasuerus, king of Persia. Mordecai took his orphaned cousin, Hadassah (Esther), into his home as her adoptive father (2:7). Later, Mordecai uncovered a plot to murder the king and saved his life (2:21-22). This good deed was recorded in the royal chronicles of Persia (2:23). Mordecai refused to bow to Haman, and as a result, Haman introduced a plan to kill all the Jews in the Persian Empire (3:6). Mordecai then exhorted Queen Esther to approach the king and save her people (3:1-4:17). Haman was hanged on the very gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai (7:10), and Mordecai became second in command, succeeding Haman. (The Liberty Annotated Study Bible, 1988)

Esther: The Jewish queen of the Persian king, Ahasuerus. She saved her people, the Jews, from a plot to annihilate them. Esther was a daughter of Abihail (2:15, 9:29) and cousin of Mordecai (2:7-15). After her father and mother died, Mordecai raised her as his own daughter. Her Jewish name was Hadassah, which means “Myrtle” (2:7). The story of Esther’s rise from an unknown Jewish girl to queen of a mighty empire illustrates how God uses events and people to fulfill His promise to His chosen people. Ahasuerus appointed Esther to replace Queen Vashti (2:17) Esther exposed Haman’s sinister plot to slay all the Jews. As a result, Ahasuerus granted the Jews the right to defend themselves and destroy their enemies. (The Liberty Annotated Study Bible, 1988)

Haman: The king’s vizier (chief adviser). Haman wants everyone in the kingdom to bow down to him, but Mordechai refuses. This leads Haman to decide to kill all the Jews, and he convinces the king to allow the plan. Only the intervention of Esther prevents Haman from carrying out his plan, and Haman is instead hung on the gallows he had erected for Mordechai.

Haman is one of the most villainous characters in Jewish history. A greedy, vengeful, and vicious advisor to King Ahasuerus, he only seeks to increase his own wealth, power and influence (generally at the expense of everyone else around him). Haman is also said to be a direct descendant of Agag, king of the Amalekites. The Amalekites attacked the Israelites as they were leaving Egypt and have become symbolic of all the enemies of the Jewish people, so for Haman to be related to Agag connects him directly to centuries of violence and persecution of the Jews. (ReformJudaism.org)

The Book of Esther tells the tale of the rich and powerful, the weak and powerless, and the sovereignty of God. It gives us a clear picture of an anti-Semite, Haman, bent on destroying the Jews. It shows the courage of a young Jewish girl, Esther, who gave up everything to save her people the Jews. It shines a light on the wise Counsel of Mordecai.

What a great story. Although God is not named in the text, God is in every event. God allows all the plot lines to fit His will and purposes. We serve a great God!

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

Good morning,

This week we will recap the Sermon on the Mount series. Jesus taught on 32 different topics. He challenged His disciples thinking and ours. He wants us to take what we have learned and apply it to our lives.

Sermon On the Mount Recap

History

“The Jews in Jesus’ day were living in hard times. They were facing a national crisis. Roman rulers controlled their land, took their money, and raped their women. Many of the Jewish priests and local leaders were assassinated and replaced by handpicked appointments from Rome or Herod. Thousands of Jews who tried to resist Roman rule quickly paid the severe price of death.  

This oppressive environment created numerous challenges for those who were striving to remain loyal to God’s covenant. According to the Torah, God alone was king and He would rule His people through a descendant of King David. No foreigner was to rule over the Jews (Deut 17:15). So what was a good Jew to do? Was it okay to go along with the Roman authorities, or would submitting to Caesar, Pilate, and Herod betray Yahweh’s lordship?”

Matthew 7

Judge not

Judge not (1)

The golden rule

…whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them

The strait gate

Enter ye in at the strait gate (13)

False prophets

Beware of false prophets (15)

I never knew you

… I never knew you (23)

Two foundations

…built his house upon a rock: built his house upon the sand (24,26)

Jesus taught with authority

… he taught them as one having authority (29)

“The crowds were astonished by Jesus’ teaching because He taught with authority. Rather than speaking in half-measures, or referring to the wisdom of others, Christ speaks as One who absolutely knows the truth, first-hand. Not only is the character of Jesus’ life different from that of Israel’s religious leaders (Matthew 5:20), both the style and substance of His teaching are unique, as well (Matthew 7:28–29).” (BibleRef.com/Matthew/7/Matthew-chapter-7.htm)

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

Good morning,

This week we will recap the Sermon on the Mount series. Jesus taught on 32 different topics. He challenged His disciples thinking and ours. He wants us to take what we have learned and apply it to our lives.

Sermon On the Mount Recap

History

“The Jews in Jesus’ day were living in hard times. They were facing a national crisis. Roman rulers controlled their land, took their money, and raped their women. Many of the Jewish priests and local leaders were assassinated and replaced by handpicked appointments from Rome or Herod. Thousands of Jews who tried to resist Roman rule quickly paid the severe price of death.  

This oppressive environment created numerous challenges for those who were striving to remain loyal to God’s covenant. According to the Torah, God alone was king and He would rule His people through a descendant of King David. No foreigner was to rule over the Jews (Deut 17:15). So what was a good Jew to do? Was it okay to go along with the Roman authorities, or would submitting to Caesar, Pilate, and Herod betray Yahweh’s lordship?”

Matthew 6

Almsgiving

…do not your alms before men (1)

Prayer

… pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly (6)

Fasting

…appear not unto men to fast (18)

Treasures in heaven

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth (19)

Light of the body

The light of the body is the eye (22)

Trusting one master

No man can serve two masters (24)

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

Good morning,

This week we will recap the Sermon on the Mount series. Jesus taught on 32 different topics. He challenged His disciples thinking and ours. He wants us to take what we have learned and apply it to our lives.

Sermon On the Mount Recap

History

“The Jews in Jesus’ day were living in hard times. They were facing a national crisis. Roman rulers controlled their land, took their money, and raped their women. Many of the Jewish priests and local leaders were assassinated and replaced by handpicked appointments from Rome or Herod. Thousands of Jews who tried to resist Roman rule quickly paid the severe price of death.  

This oppressive environment created numerous challenges for those who were striving to remain loyal to God’s covenant. According to the Torah, God alone was king and He would rule His people through a descendant of King David. No foreigner was to rule over the Jews (Deut 17:15). So what was a good Jew to do? Was it okay to go along with the Roman authorities, or would submitting to Caesar, Pilate, and Herod betray Yahweh’s lordship?”

Matthew 5

Beatitudes

Blessed are:

…the poor in spirit (3)

…they that mourn (4)

…the meek (5)

… they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness (6)

…the merciful (7)

…the pure in heart (8)

…the peacemakers (9)

… they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake (10)

…when men revile you (11)

Rejoice, and be exceeding glad (12)

Character traits

Salt (13)

Light (14-16)

Law

Think not that I am come to destroy the law, …but to fulfill (17)

Anger

Thou shalt not kill; That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: (21-22)

Adultery

Thou shalt not commit adultery: That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. (27-28)

Divorce

Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: (31-32)

Oaths

Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: Swear not at all; (33-34)

Retaliation

An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. (38-39)

Love thy enemies

Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy. Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; (43-44)

Matthew 6

Almsgiving

…do not your alms before men (1)

Prayer

… pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly (6)

Fasting

…appear not unto men to fast (18)

Treasures in heaven

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth (19)

Light of the body

The light of the body is the eye (22)

Trusting one master

No man can serve two masters (24)

Matthew 7

Judge not

Judge not (1)

The golden rule

…whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them

The strait gate

Enter ye in at the strait gate (13)

False prophets

Beware of false prophets (15)

I never knew you

… I never knew you (23)

Two foundations

…built his house upon a rock: built his house upon the sand (24,26)

Jesus taught with authority

… he taught them as one having authority (29)

“The crowds were astonished by Jesus’ teaching because He taught with authority. Rather than speaking in half-measures, or referring to the wisdom of others, Christ speaks as One who absolutely knows the truth, first-hand. Not only is the character of Jesus’ life different from that of Israel’s religious leaders (Matthew 5:20), both the style and substance of His teaching are unique, as well (Matthew 7:28–29).” (BibleRef.com/Matthew/7/Matthew-chapter-7.htm)

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

Good morning,

This week we will recap the Sermon on the Mount series. Jesus taught on 32 different topics. He challenged His disciples thinking and ours. He wants us to take what we have learned and apply it to our lives.

Sermon On the Mount Recap

History

“The Jews in Jesus’ day were living in hard times. They were facing a national crisis. Roman rulers controlled their land, took their money, and raped their women. Many of the Jewish priests and local leaders were assassinated and replaced by handpicked appointments from Rome or Herod. Thousands of Jews who tried to resist Roman rule quickly paid the severe price of death.  

This oppressive environment created numerous challenges for those who were striving to remain loyal to God’s covenant. According to the Torah, God alone was king and He would rule His people through a descendant of King David. No foreigner was to rule over the Jews (Deut 17:15). So what was a good Jew to do? Was it okay to go along with the Roman authorities, or would submitting to Caesar, Pilate, and Herod betray Yahweh’s lordship?”

Matthew 5

Beatitudes

Blessed are:

…the poor in spirit (3)

…they that mourn (4)

…the meek (5)

… they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness (6)

…the merciful (7)

…the pure in heart (8)

…the peacemakers (9)

… they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake (10)

…when men revile you (11)

Rejoice, and be exceeding glad (12)

Character traits

Salt (13)

Light (14-16)

Law

Think not that I am come to destroy the law, …but to fulfill (17)

Anger

Thou shalt not kill; That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: (21-22)

Adultery

Thou shalt not commit adultery: That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. (27-28)

Divorce

Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: (31-32)

Oaths

Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: Swear not at all; (33-34)

Retaliation

An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. (38-39)

Love thy enemies

Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy. Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; (43-44)

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

Good morning,

This week we will look at love from God’s perspective.

Valentine’s day promotes the love between couples. It is relational and centered on the world’s system of love. Sometimes physical, sexual, and immoral. Gifts, flowers, candy, are all given to the one we love.

God’s love is different.

God is love. He demonstrates His love. He gives His love. He shows us examples of love. He explains that His love is opened to all. He defines love.

Join us this week as we explore the God of love.

Definition of God’s Love

Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: (1Corinthians 13:4-8a)

The following is a description of agape love, also called “charity” in the New Testament (1 Cor. 13). This paraphrase is based upon research of the Greek and English words and their meanings in 1 Cor. 13:4-8.

LOVE BEARETH ALL THINGS. God’s love makes it possible to withstand all stress and difficulty. Because God is love, He supports and carries on His own Person whatever is placed upon Him. God’s love protects, covers, and keeps off anything which threatens the benefit and welfare of another. God’s love holds back, refrains, and is tolerant and patient in all circumstances.

LOVE BELIEVETH ALL THINGS. God’s love puts faith in others, believing the best of everyone (without criticizing or looking for fault).

LOVE HOPETH ALL THINGS. God’s love persists in hoping, against all odds, in confidence and expectation of fulfillment of that which is promised.

LOVE ENDURETH ALL THINGS. God’s love causes one to carry on through, despite hardships.

LOVE NEVER FAILETH. God’s love never proves insufficient in duration or is unsuccessful in effectiveness. Love will never disappoint or prove undependable. God’s love goes on forever and will never come to an end.

These five descriptions of love set the bar really high.

We can bear all things through God’s love. Why? When we are in a situation of great distress, God is their also. When we cannot go on, God picks us up, encourages, and helps us.

Although we are not God, we are capable of helping others in their time of need.

God’s love sees the best in everyone. That should be our aim. Everyone has something positive. Why do we assume the negative? Look for best in each individual.

God’s love hopes and endures. We can do that because we know our God and His promises. We are expectantly awaiting the fulfillment of God’s promises. He has always been faithful and always will be. Have we told others about our hope? Do people know we are saved? Will we take our hope in Christ to others? That is the greatest gift of love anyone could receive.

God’s love never fails.

Credit due to: http://www.krowtracts.com/agape.html

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

Good morning,

This week we will look at love from God’s perspective.

Valentine’s day promotes the love between couples. It is relational and centered on the world’s system of love. Sometimes physical, sexual, and immoral. Gifts, flowers, candy, are all given to the one we love.

God’s love is different.

God is love. He demonstrates His love. He gives His love. He shows us examples of love. He explains that His love is opened to all. He defines love.

Join us this week as we explore the God of love.

Definition of God’s Love

Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: (1Corinthians 13:4-8a)

The following is a description of agape love, also called “charity” in the New Testament (1 Cor. 13). This paraphrase is based upon research of the Greek and English words and their meanings in 1 Cor. 13:4-8.

LOVE DOTH NOT BEHAVE ITSELF UNSEEMLY. God’s love does not act, react, function, or perform in a manner which is in bad taste, improper, or in violation of what is right.

LOVE SEEKETH NOT HER OWN. God’s love does not demand its own way.

LOVE IS NOT EASILY PROVOKED. God’s love is not easily annoyed or incited to anger or resentment.

LOVE THINKETH NO EVIL. God’s love does not reason about or reflect upon that which causes or constitutes misfortune, suffering, difficulty, or the like. God’s love does not ponder upon wickedness.

LOVE REJOICETH NOT IN INIQUITY. God’s love feels joyful when right, sincerity, integrity, honesty, and truth prevail.

Today’s culture has twisted the word “love” and made it mean the opposite of God’s meaning. Their meaning is negative, while God’s is positive.

Our papers are full of people who behave wickedly in the name of love. In many marriages, one of the spouses demands their own way. Many times this results in some kind of evil.

In contrast, God’s love always act uprightly. It never demands. Is not annoyed or provoked. Is always thinking the best of an individual. Always lives righteously.

Is this the lifestyle we strive to obtain? We will never be as loving as these definitions, but it should be our desire to try and fulfill them.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

Good morning,

This week we will look at love from God’s perspective.

Valentine’s day promotes the love between couples. It is relational and centered on the world’s system of love. Sometimes physical, sexual, and immoral. Gifts, flowers, candy, are all given to the one we love.

God’s love is different.

God is love. He demonstrates His love. He gives His love. He shows us examples of love. He explains that His love is opened to all. He defines love.

Join us this week as we explore the God of love.

GOD IS LOVE

1) God is Love

I John 4:8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

Romans 5:8 But God commendeth (demonstrated) his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Gen 1 In the beginning God

Gen 2 Made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.

Gen 3 Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.

Gen 37-50 Joseph In all Joseph’s adversity, God loved him and cared for him

Exodus God loved his children Israel and provided a way of escape from the Egyptians

Judges 2,6 Rahab was a harlot but God loved her and saved her and her family

Ruth Ruth was a Moabite

2 Sam 11 David had a man killed

1 Kings 11 Solomon disobeyed God

Acts 9  Saul, persecutor of the church on the road to Emmaus

2) How do we respond to God’s love?

John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

I John 4:19 We love him, because he first loved us.

I John 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

3) Definition of God’s Love

Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: (1Corinthians 13:4-8a)

The following is a description of agape love, also called “charity” in the New Testament (1 Cor. 13). This paraphrase is based upon research of the Greek and English words and their meanings in 1 Cor. 13:4-8.

LOVE SUFFERETH LONG. God’s love has a tolerance for and endures trying situations and persons beyond an average standard. God’s love is patient.

LOVE IS KIND. God’s love is of a friendly nature, generous, hospitable, warm-hearted, and good. God’s love is charitable and helpful, showing sympathy and understanding for others. It is considerate, forbearing, tolerant, courteous, and thoughtful, desiring only to promote another’s welfare. It is generous, liberal, and beneficial, demonstrating itself in kindly acts.

LOVE ENVIETH NOT. God’s love does not resent another’s good fortune or desire to have what is his. God’s love is not jealous and does not deprive another of what he has.

LOVE VAUNTETH NOT ITSELF. God’s love does not boast and brag or abound with self-praise. It is not vain nor proud.

LOVE IS NOT PUFFED UP. God’s love is not high-minded or puffed up with pride.

LOVE DOTH NOT BEHAVE ITSELF UNSEEMLY. God’s love does not act, react, function, or perform in a manner which is in bad taste, improper, or in violation of what is right.

LOVE SEEKETH NOT HER OWN. God’s love does not demand its own way.

LOVE IS NOT EASILY PROVOKED. God’s love is not easily annoyed or incited to anger or resentment.

LOVE THINKETH NO EVIL. God’s love does not reason about or reflect upon that which causes or constitutes misfortune, suffering, difficulty, or the like. God’s love does not ponder upon wickedness.

LOVE REJOICETH NOT IN INIQUITY. God’s love feels joyful when right, sincerity, integrity, honesty, and truth prevail.

LOVE BEARETH ALL THINGS. God’s love makes it possible to withstand all stress and difficulty. Because God is love, He supports and carries on His own Person whatever is placed upon Him. God’s love protects, covers, and keeps off anything which threatens the benefit and welfare of another. God’s love holds back, refrains, and is tolerant and patient in all circumstances.

LOVE BELIEVETH ALL THINGS. God’s love puts faith in others, believing the best of everyone (without criticizing or looking for fault).

LOVE HOPETH ALL THINGS. God’s love persists in hoping, against all odds, in confidence and expectation of fulfillment of that which is promised.

LOVE ENDURETH ALL THINGS. God’s love causes one to carry on through, despite hardships.

LOVE NEVER FAILETH. God’s love never proves insufficient in duration or is unsuccessful in effectiveness. Love will never disappoint or prove undependable. God’s love goes on forever and will never come to an end.

Credit due to: http://www.krowtracts.com/agape.html

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com