Archive for the ‘love’ Category
Today’s Bible Reading: Jeremiah 37; Jeremiah 38; Jeremiah 39; Psalm 79; 2 John 1 (The Message)
May 14, 2010 Love Splashing Over
Today’s Bible Reading: 1 Chronicles 22; 1 Chronicles 23; 1 Chronicles 24; 1 Thessalonians 3 (The Message)
Scripture Focus:
I Thessalonians 2:11-13 May God our Father himself and our Master Jesus clear the road to you! And may the Master pour on the love so it fills your lives and splashes over on everyone around you, just as it does from us to you. May you be infused with strength and purity, filled with confidence in the presence of God our Father when our Master Jesus arrives with all his followers.
Observation:
The Thessalonians were experiencing hard times in their Christian walk, so Paul wrote to encourage them and say how proud he was that they were toughing it out. Then he prayed this prayer, asking God to pour so much love into their lives that it would splash over onto everyone around them.
Application:
I’ve tended to think of loving my neighbor as something sacrificial—something I have to do even when I don’t feel like it. In this passage Paul asks God to pour so much of his love into the Thessalonians that it would fill them up and splash over onto everyone around them.
This kind of love from God fills ME up first—then splashes over to others. I don’t have to be afraid I’ll be depleted or give out so much that I don’t have any left for myself.
Prayer:
Wow, God! I never thought to ask for that kind of love from you—the kind that pours out from you into me, then splashes over to others, because I can’t contain it all! I’d like it, please!
Scripture Focus:
May 13, 2010 True Christianity–Community
Today’s Bible Reading: 2 Samuel 24; 1 Chronicles 21; Psalm 30; 1 Thessalonians 2 (The Message)
Scripture Focus:
I Thessalonians 2:7–8 We weren’t aloof with you. We took you just as you were. We were never patronizing, never condescending, but we cared for you the way a mother cares for her children. We loved you dearly. Not content to just pass on the Message, we wanted to give you our hearts. And we did.
Observation:
This seems to be the perfect description of how Christianity should work. Christians should be involved with people and love and care for them as a mother cares for her children. We should accept people as they are. It’s not just about sharing the gospel message, converting people, and moving on. It’s about giving people our hearts.
Application:
Isn’t this what I would want? True love and care, not a number notched on someone’s belt. I keep thinking of Larry Spousta’s statement, “Love people until they ask you why!”
Prayer:
Father God, this kind of sacrificial love isn’t natural. You’ll have to give it to me in order for me to give it away to others.
Scripture Focus:
December 10, 2009 Focus Instead of Fear
Today’s Bible Reading: 2 Timothy 1, 2, 3, 4
Scripture Focus:
2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
2 Timothy 2:4–7 No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops. Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things.
Observation:
God has not given me a spirit of fear. Instead, he gives me a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind. Armed with such a spirit from God himself, I can focus on the job God has given ME to do. As I focus, God will give me understanding in ALL things.
Application:
There isn’t room for worry or fear in my life today. Worry and fear are paralyzing. Power, love, and a sound mind are energizing. That’s what God gives to me as I start my day, but I must focus. God doesn’t promise an easy, self indulgent life. Just the opposite. But the rewards are great. “The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops.”
Prayer:
May I walk in the power and love of God today. I know I have a sound mind, for I have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16), so God, please help me focus today on the things that matter.
Scripture Focus:
2 Timothy 2:4–7 No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops. Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things.
November 13, 2009 Feel The Love
Today’s Bible Reading: Job 39, 40; I Corinthians 13, 14
Scripture Focus:
I Corinthians 13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.
Observation:
One can be a great speaker, or one can say all the right words—beautiful words, even—and lack love for the ones being spoken to. This kind of talk—talk without love—is as worthless or hollow as metal striking against metal.
Application:
It’s not so much what I say, but my motivation behind the words, that counts. People can feel the difference. When I talk to my family, or the Scrapper’s Guide team, or people in the church, or strangers, can they sense the love I have for them? If I don’t have love, can I ask God to channel his love through me so they see the love of God?
Prayer:
Father, God. You’ve said love trumps everything. It’s impossible to have that kind of love without you. May your love flow through my words today in such a way that the people I speak to feel loved.
Scripture Focus:
August 25, 2009 Love Is Action
Today’s Bible Reading: Jeremiah 37, 38, 39; Psalm 79; 2 John 1
Scripture Focus:
2 John 1:5–6 Love one another. This is love, that we walk according to His commandments.
Observation:
Biblical love is not some sort of gushy feeling. It’s doing the right thing, the sacrificial thing, for our fellow Christians and for those who are enemies of Christ.
Application:
I’m essentially a selfish creature. It takes time and effort and giving up my own rights and comforts to love others with this kind of love. I can’t, however, wait around to feel like loving someone. I must do the loving thing for someone and be the extension of Jesus’ sacrificial love.
Prayer:
Father God, you know this doesn’t come easily or naturally to me. This kind of love can only come from you.
Scripture Focus:
August 22, 2009 Love In Action
Today’s Bible Reading: Jeremiah 28, 29, 30; 1 John 3
Scripture Focus:
1 John 3:18 My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.
Observation:
This is the classic way of saying, “Your actions speak so loud that I can’t hear what you’re saying.”
Application:
It’s a good pause to ask myself, “How will love the people I come into contact with today? That would be my family primarily today.
Prayer:
Father God, give me ideas for how I can best love my family today!
August 21, 2009 Confident Or Ashamed?
Today’s Bible Reading: Jeremiah 21, 24, 27; Psalm 118; 1 John 2
Scripture Focus:
1 John 2:28 And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.
Observation:
When Jesus returns the Bible says we will all give an account of our lives. John urges us to abide in Jesus now, so that when Jesus returns, we will stand before him confidently without shame for how we’ve lived our lives.
Application:
I have to admit I’ve mulled over this issue a bit lately. I’m not a spring chicken anymore. I see my parent’s generation declining rapidly and saying good-bye to this world. If God wills, I may have another 30 years of life left—but what is that? It will pass more quickly than my first 55 years have.
Soon I will stand before Him, and how will I feel? Will I feel confident, or ashamed?
John gives us a clue about what will matter on that day.
1 John 2:10 He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him.
1 John 2:15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
So here’s the question: Did I love people or things? And how does my life show that I either love people or things?
Prayer:
Father God, thanks for this reminder again today about what matters to you. May I be one who always choose people over things!
August 13, 2009 The Greatest Sacrifice
Today’s Bible Reading: Jeremiah 13, 14, 15; John 15
Scripture Focus:
John 15:12–13 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.
Observation:
This commandment is at once simple and hard. To love someone is the greatest act of self sacrifice, because you do what’s best for them. We don’t like to give up our rights, our comfort, to do something for someone, but that is the greatest test of our love.
Application:
I’m not very good at self sacrifice, I’m afraid, but I can start by asking God who I can show love to and how.
Prayer:
Father God, you have shown me unbridled love! Teach me how to love others as you have loved me.
June 11, 2009 Praiseworthy Love
Today’s Bible Reading: Song of Solomon 5–8; Philippians 1
Scripture Focus:
Philippians 1:9–11 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
Observation:
Love is the major characteristic of a Christian. John 13:35 says, “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
Here Paul is praying that the Philippians’ love will abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment. I don’t usually put knowledge and discernment together with the concept of love, but here’s why Paul says it’s necessary:
It helps you approve the things that are excellent
It helps you be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ
It causes you to be filled with the fruits of righteousness
A love like this glorifies and praises God.
Application:
I don’t think I’ve even begun to plumb the depths of love. My love is often superficial. Paul is talking about a deep love that is well thought through and offered from a discerning heart. I would like the fruit of this kind of love. I would like to approve the things that are excellent. (Why waste time on anything less than the best?) I would like to be sincere and without offense. I would like to be filled with the fruits of righteousness. And I would like God to be glorified and praised because of my love.
Prayer:
Father God, only you can give me a heart that exudes this kind of love for others. I pray you’ll give me knowledge and discernment so I will have a love that truly honors you.
