Daily Devotion, June 29, 2021

 

Devotion:

Read 1 Corinthians 13.

Do you agree with the guy who said, "To live above with those we love, oh, how that will be glory. To live below with those we know, now that's another story." Sometimes it’s hard to love others. In one of Pastor Nathan’s sermon illustrations, he rewrote 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 to have the opposite meaning. I thought that would be a good way to remind us that when we are not showing love, we are not living God's way.

"Love is impatient; love is unkind. It is envious, boasts all the time and is arrogant. It dishonors other people and is selfish. It is easily angered and constantly keeps a scorecard of times hurt. Love delights in evil and hates the truth. It is never around when needed, will not trust anyone, says there is no hope and gives up easily. Love is a failure."

Are we too often impatient and unkind? Boastful? Angry? When we display those traits, we are not walking in the way God would have us to. Here is the actual passage from 1 Corinthians. Let's look at the characteristics of love we are to demonstrate. Remember that Jesus commanded us to do two things: Love God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength, and to love others. Let's see how this love is supposed to look in our lives.

“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.” I Corinthians 13:4-6

When we are at our best, as individuals and as groups of people, love is at the core of who we are and how we live our lives. Love is the goal of Christian maturity. Of all the qualities we can have, love is the greatest.

Personal Worship Option:

Prayer: “Father, help me to put away my childish selfish desires and to love the way you love. I don’t see clearly right now and don’t understand things you ask me to do, but know that one day we will all see as clearly as you see us. Right now I pray for three things that will help me in my faith journey: to trust steadily in you, to hope without wavering, and to love extravagantly. And to know the best of the three is love. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.”