26
Mar '20
Love in Action
26
Mar '20
Love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. (John 13:34-35)
Love is not just a feeling. It is an action.
Jesus tells us that others will know us by our love..
He also tells us that we ought to love one another.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 reads, “Love is patient, love is kind.
It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”
True love in action puts the needs of others before our own.
It doesn’t retaliate when someone hurts us.
It is kind, giving to those who don’t always deserve it or may not have earned it… by your definition.
True love is selfless, not self-serving.
If you are home with your family, love them. If you have grandparents or older neighbors home by themselves, call them. There is no time like the present to put Jesus’s commands in action! Love in action!
What a beautiful devotion. Love without action is merely a word. We must all be reminded of this from time to time and especially now. Take a moment and show someone you love them today.
Have a beautiful and uplifting day in The Lord!
Have a beautiful and uplifting day in The Lord!
28
Feb '20
Love Others
28
Feb '20
Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. (Luke 23:34)
Jesus cried out with compassion and mercy on those who were crucifying him.
He had every right to want revenge or to see his persecutors suffer.
But Jesus did not think of them as his enemies; he thought of them as God’s children.
Remember, those trapped in hate and all it’s deceptions are just that…trapped.
We were all born to share the gospel.
We all came from God – every one of us was intimately formed by God, out of love. (Psalm 139)
Jesus charges us with loving our enemies. But I say unto you, 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. (Matt 5:44)
And, He has given us everything we need to be like Him.
Father, may your love fill me. May I love others with your love, not my limited human love. May I be filled with a sense of tenderness towards all your sons and daughters. Amen.
What I loved about this devotion is the fact that it’s so easy to be angry, to hold a grudge, to want revenge for being wronged but if we would take a step back for even just a moment and remember what God’s word asks us to do, we would live a much happier, peaceful and fulfilled life. If we would love others with His love we could change the world, it starts with you and I, we must be the change we wish to see in the world. As today’s devotion says, may His love fill you that you will be filled with a sense of tenderness towards all people. Lord, let them see You in me.
Have a beautiful and uplifting day in The Lord!
18
Feb '20
HE is LOVE
18
Feb '20
He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. (1 John 4:8)
Our most basic human need is to feel loved. In feeling loved and making other people feel loved we encounter the person of God.
It’s not that God is loving; he is love itself.
When we feel love and we give love we are experiencing the actual presence of God.
Whether I’m loving my children or feeling loved God himself is with me. In every way that I experience love I will remember I am in your presence!
…love one another; as I have loved you…By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. (John 13:34-35)
When I read this devotion it blessed me and I felt it needed to be shared. What an incredible reminder about love, He is love. The best way to find love is to find God.
Have a beautiful and uplifting day in The Lord!
21
Jan '20
Love Like He Loves You
21
Jan '20
A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. (John 13:34-35)
Love is not just a feeling. It is an action. Jesus tells us that others will know us by our love..
He also tells us that we ought to love one another.
1 Corinthians 13: 4-8 reads: “Love is patient, love is kind.
It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”
True love in action puts the needs of others before our own.
It doesn’t retaliate when someone hurts us.
It is kind, giving to those who don’t always deserve it or may not have earned it by your definition.
True love is selfless, not self-serving.
How might you show love today to someone in your life today?
Who in your life needs a glimpse of God’s love, regardless of whether you think they deserve it?
When I read this devotion it blessed me. I felt it needed to be shared time and again. We all need this reminder, Love is patient and kind. Lord, help us to love like we have been loved.
Have a beautiful and uplifting day in The Lord!
24
Oct '19
Seeing Jesus in Others
24
Oct '19
Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. (Matthew 25:37-40)
When I rush through life I tend to see sin in others, not my Savior Jesus. If I first look for someone’s imperfections, I jettison the joy of immediately loving them like they were the Lord. Jesus explains in His parable—the counterintuitive claim of feeding, clothing, visiting the sick and those in prison, are all a reflection of caring for Christ, “You did it for me”. What a loving lens! Prayerfully, I am able to see others like Jesus—beautiful, precious and worthy of my love.
I find myself from time to time thinking poorly about another, and frankly at times I get downright angry at someone’s insensitivity toward me or someone I care about. Only when I pray for them am I prepared to love them like the Lord loves them. I have to ask myself, though I have been hurt by this person, how by the power of the Holy Spirit can I look beyond my hurt to the healing their heart needs. In Jesus’ name, I can pray for wholeness of soul for both of us. My posture of prayer prepares me to let go of my hang ups and lift up a needy soul in love.
When I pray for people hard to love, it’s hard not to love them. Love sees Jesus in others.
From Catherine of Siena, Letters:
The soul will want to be on fire with love for God, forgetting itself like a person in love does. People who are in love forget themselves entirely. They have no time for staring at their navels. Instead, they’re totally absorbed in the object of their love. Love has the power to make lover and beloved join in heart and mind. What one loves, the other loves. They are one. I’ve noticed that whenever we love or really want something (whether this is something useful or something merely bringing us joy or pleasure), we don’t care what insult, injury, or trouble we must go through to get it. In fact, we’re so intent on getting what we want, we hardly even notice how hard we are working to get it. Now that’s love!
Who do you know who is hard to love? Look at him with eyes of compassion and concern. He may still be stuck in a crazy cycle of hurt from a childhood trauma that fuels his unhealthy emotions. Look for the Lord in his life: his smile, his good deed, his helpful work. Or, she may lack the love of her earthly father—needy and hungry for connection. See your Savior in her life: her wise words, her intuitive sense, her relational skills. Love looks for the best—it sees Jesus.
“Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares” (Hebrews 13:2).
Heavenly Father, give me loving eyes to see You at work in the heart of those who cross my path, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Wow, I was so moved by this devotion that I had to share it. Just the other day I seen something and it said, Our job is to love others without stopping to inquire whether or not they are worthy. May this be at the forefront of our minds when we find it hard to love. I needed to be reminded of this today and my prayer is that someone is encouraged to “Look at him or her with eyes of compassion and concern”. Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about, be kind, always.
Have a beautiful and uplifting day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Proverbs 9:10
18
Jul '19
We Know Love by This
18
Jul '19
“Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down ourlives for the brethren.” (1 John 3:16)
I find it impossible to lose sight of the fact that Christ not only died for our sins, but He also endured everything we would have to endure so that we could never say that He didn’t understand our problems.
In the verse above, we see how Jesus shows His unconditional, undeserved love through His willingness to die for us in order to give us life. With this action on His part, He has every right to request that we offer the littlest portion of such a gesture for someone else. This verse doesn’t only talk about showing love by losing your physical life; but also about setting aside your own agenda in order to help, reach out to, and love others.
If you think there are no people on earth today that are willing to die for their fellow man, look again! All you have to do is take a look around your community—from the policemen, firemen, and emergency crews to members of the military.
We see that such a love for others is all around us. It doesn’t have to be as glamorous as the secret service in their dapper suits and earpiece communications to be a life-saving profession. We all witnessed countless heroes on 9/11 and during other tragedies who did their all to save the lives of others.
We see accounts of heroism on some level just about every night on the evening news. People are seen laying their own lives on the line for someone else. How much more should we be willing to lay down our lives for others since we have the example of Christ being sacrificed once for all men!
If you ask any of these people (servicemen and women, firemen, policemen, etc.) “why” they do what they do, they may not be able to tell you, it’s just something in them—a sense of duty that makes them willing. It’s the same with our faith! With the Holy Spirit in us, we will just be walking in the Spirit, willing to do what we should as we love each other.
The picture of love that Christ showed us is perfect. Love in its simplest form according to Christ is obedience. Christ was obedient to the Father and became the ultimate sacrifice, a greater example of love does not exist!
In John 14:15, we see Jesus give guidance on our relationship with Him, where He says,
If ye love me, keep my commandments.
Obedience is a result of love and respect. When we love Jesus, we obey His requests. Jesus loved the Father and obeyed His commands.
We love God and others, and one way we show our love is through obeying God’s commands. Jesus clearly tells His people,
A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. (John 13:34-35)
In this, we can see that loving one another Jesus’ way is more than “mushy gushy love talk” and a quick hug. It’s the real, lay down your life, pull together and help someone where they need you (even when it’s not easy) type gesture backed up by genuine, hard-working action. Love is the best when it is being “worked out” and actions are involved. Love is an action. It is not just a passing emotion that requires little more than brainpower and some smooth talk!
Jesus showed love to those He came into contact with during His earthly ministry by improving their situation. He impacted their lives in positive ways. He cast out demons, making the possessed emotionally whole. He healed physical conditions; He helped out at a wedding to bring honor to those hosting it. He changed lives. Jesus helped us all by giving us the hope of salvation.
I pray you are blessed and encouraged by this devotion today. When I read this devotion I felt it needed to be shared because we all need this reminder. Strive to impact someone’s life in a positive way today.
Have a beautiful and uplifting day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Psalm 119:7
06
May '19
Fearless Love
06
May '19
We love him, because he first loved us. (1 John 4:19)
For years I wore a shield of fear to protect my heart. It became an excuse to avoid trying new things, following my dreams, and obeying God. But fear of loss, heartache, and rejection hindered me from developing loving relationships with God and others. Fear made me an insecure, anxious, and jealous wife, and an overprotective, worrying mother. As I continue learning how much God loves me, however, He’s changing the way I relate to Him and to others. Because I know God will care for me, I feel more secure and willing to place the needs of others before mine.
God is love (1 John 4:7–8). Christ’s death on the cross—the ultimate demonstration of love—displays the depth of His passion for us (vv. 9–10). Because God loves us and lives in us, we can love others based on who He is and what He’s done (vv. 11–12).
When we receive Jesus as our Savior, He gives us His Holy Spirit (vv. 13–15). As the Spirit helps us know and rely on God’s love, He makes us more like Jesus (vv. 16–17). Growing in trust and faith can gradually eliminate fear, simply because we know without a doubt that God loves us deeply and completely (vv. 18–19).
As we experience God’s personal and unconditional love for us, we grow and can risk relating to Him and others with fearless love.
What fears are found in your heart? As you ponder God’s great love for you, how does this help alleviate them?
Lord, thank You for pouring limitless love into us so we can love You and others without fear. Amen.
This devotion blessed me. I pray it encourages someone in need of fearless love. Remember today, He first loved you and His love for you is unwavering His love is all you need but be willing and open to love others without fear because no matter what, He loves you with a limitless love.
Have a beautiful and uplifting day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is James 5:16
14
Mar '19
A Father’s Love
14
Mar '19
As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him. (Psalm 103:13)
I love my father. He is an ordinary man. He did not have great wealth, but he did not waver in his efforts to make sure his children could be successful. Though our family faced financial difficulties, he told me not to worry about the cost of my education. My father worked as hard as he could to secure enough money so that I could finish my studies and graduate from the university. My father’s struggles on our behalf made me love him all the more. His sacrifices for our family and the love that he showed us kept me constantly amazed. Even so, I know that there is a Father in heaven who loves me more than my earthly father. After all, God showed his love for us all through Jesus, his son, who suffered and died for the sins of the whole world! By God’s love through Jesus we are saved for abundant living and eternal life. As much as I love my father, God’s love goes far beyond that. God’s love for us cannot be measured — just experienced. I thank God for the love of my earthly father. But my gratitude is even deeper for God’s never-ending love for me.
Beloved Father, we thank you for earthly fathers who have shown us your love. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This devotion blessed me. It made me think of how incredibly blessed I am to have my earthly father. He too always works so hard to give his girls everything they need and want, even now, his love is and never has been a question in my mind and as today’s devotions says, if he loves me this much how much more does our Heavenly Father love. If you never had a great father role model, know that you always had and continue to have God looking out for you and loving you beyond measure. He is the father of all fathers.
Have a beautiful and uplifting day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is 2 Peter 1:5-8
29
Jan '19
Whispering Words
29
Jan '19
Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. (Ephesians 4:29)
The young man fidgeted as he sat down for his flight. His eyes darted back and forth to the aircraft windows. Then he closed his eyes and breathed deeply, trying to calm himself—but it didn’t work. As the plane took off, he slowly rocked back and forth. An older woman across the aisle from him put her hand on his arm and gently engaged him in conversation to divert his attention from his stress. “What’s your name?” “Where are you from?” “We’re going to be okay,” and “You’re doing well” were a few things she whispered. She could have been irritated with him or ignored him. But she chose a touch and a few words. Little things. When they landed three hours later, he said, “Thank you so much for helping me.”
Such beautiful pictures of tenderheartedness can be hard to find. Kindness does not come naturally to many of us; our primary concern is often ourselves. But when the apostle Paul urged, “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:32), he was not saying it all depends on us. After we’ve been given a new life by our faith in Jesus, the Spirit begins a transformation. Kindness is the ongoing work of the Spirit renewing our thoughts and attitudes (v. 23).
The God of compassion is at work in our hearts, allowing us in turn to touch others’ lives by reaching out and whispering words of encouragement.
Lord, use me today to bring someone hope, a lighter burden, encouragement. Amen.
This devotion blessed me, so simple yet so powerful. Helping one person may not change the whole world, but it could change the world for one person. Today, may we be reminded that compassion is understanding the troubles of others and reaching out. A kind gesture can reach a wound that only compassion can heal. Be His hands extended each and every day.
Have a beautiful and uplifting day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Matthew 5:14-16
04
Jan '19
Loving Difficult People
04
Jan '19
Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. (Colossians 3:12-14)
It was only a three-minute escape. Listening to my name being chanted over and over, louder and louder, with greater urgency, along with pounding on the door, you might imagine me to be a rock star.
But in reality, I’m the mother of a toddler who has decided he is only content when he is in my arms. My escape was merely a trip to the bathroom in which I took a deep breath behind the locked door before re-entering my world of diapers, blocks, and Daniel Tiger. And even though I love this little guy with all my heart, at times he can definitely be a difficult person to keep showing love to, especially in the midst of tantrums and tears.
It probably isn’t hard for you to think of a difficult person in your own life. In our broken, sin-filled world, they are everywhere. The coworker who is willing to do anything to get ahead, including taking credit for your ideas. The in-laws who always seem to be peering over your shoulder, critiquing your parenting skills, and offering “suggestions” for improvement. The child who knows exactly how to push your buttons to leave you exasperated and flustered again. The person in your ministry who is constantly complaining about your leadership, who thinks he has better ideas and communicates them with a sharp and biting tongue. The passive-aggressive friend who is kind one moment and gives you the cold shoulder the next. The list can go on and on.
So, what do we do with these people? With constant strained relationships? Our natural tendency is to want to run the other way, to avoid them as much as possible. But is that what honors God in these hard situations?
Moses was no stranger to leading a group of difficult people. Even after rescuing them out of slavery and leading them safely away from the Egyptians, the Israelites were not happy with him. Instead of being grateful for their new freedom and provision from God, they were shedding tears over the menu (Numbers 11:4–6), grumbling about not having water (Numbers 20:2–3), wishing they had died in Egypt and could choose another leader (Numbers 14:2–4). Even Moses’s own siblings were jealous of his leadership (Numbers 12:2) and complained to God about their brother and his Cushite wife.
Yet what amazes me about Moses is that he didn’t retaliate against this annoying group of people. He didn’t even defend himself against the harsh accusations. Instead, he demonstrated amazing humility and compassion on those he led, repeatedly interceding for them.
Moses pled with God to heal Miriam’s leprosy (Numbers 12:13). He begged God to forgive Israel’s unbelief when it was time to enter the Promised Land (Numbers 14:19). He lay prostrate before God, fasting forty days and nights after Aaron and the Israelites had made the golden calf to worship (Deuteronomy 9:13–18).
Admittedly, there were moments when the Israelites’ constant complaints drove Moses to the brink of despair (Exodus 5:22; Numbers 11:14–15), yet by God’s grace he persevered. And even at the very end of his life, he was still lovingly leading the disobedient Israelites.
Moses remained steadfast to his last days and made sure God had another leader in place to take over. He didn’t want his wandering sheep to be without a shepherd (Numbers 27:16–17). Moses never stopped loving them, even at their worst.
By God’s grace, we too can keep loving the difficult people God has placed in our lives. The easy thing is to cut the troublesome person out of your life when possible, or just avoid them at best.
But I suggest we are more like our patient and loving Savior when we bear with each other and seek to show mercy and kindness, no matter how we are treated.
Here are six practical ways, among many others, to show love to a difficult person God has placed in your path.
1. Pray for your own heart.
Ask God to soften your heart towards this person, to put off anger and irritability, to put on meekness and kindness, to understand this person’s struggles and meet them with compassion (Colossians 3:12–14).
2. Pray for them.
Ask God to be at work in their hearts, drawing unbelievers to himself and sanctifying believers to become more like Jesus (Philippians 1:9–11).
3. Move toward them, not away from them.
Although our tendency is to want to steer clear of people with whom we have strained relationships, they are exactly the people we need to be intentionally moving toward. Find ways to engage them in conversation, meet them for coffee, send them a text.
4. Find specific ways to bless and encourage them.
Write them a note of appreciation. Buy them a book that has been an encouragement to you. Tell them you are praying for them.
5. Give them grace, just as God extends grace to you.
Remember God’s lavish grace poured out for your own daily sins. Ask God to help you bear with them, forgiving them, as he has forgiven you (Colossians 3:13).
6. Realize that you too could be the difficult person in someone else’s life!
You might not even realize that you are a thorn in the flesh for someone close to you. Don’t be oblivious to your own shortcomings and sins.
So, when that child has you on the brink of tears, or you’ve just received a harsh and critical email about your ministry, or you’re confronted with that extended family member who drives you up the wall, ask God for grace not to run away, but to keep engaging that hard-to-love person in love.
God will be honored and our hearts will find deeper satisfaction as we seek to love people just as Christ loved us when we were his enemies.
When I read this devotion I felt not only do I need to be reminded and encouraged about this very thing, someone, somewhere, needs to read this today. Maybe you had a rough day at work or just in life. I pray this devotion can give you encouragement and guidance in how to show love, no matter what your going through, no matter what your facing, no matter how your treated in return, love. Show The Love of Christ in all you say and do. Be blessed today and choose to make the rest of your day beautiful. Help me Lord to show Love, always.
Have a beautiful and uplifting day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Jeremiah 29:13