Today’s Bible Verses
Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (NKJV)
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
1 John 4:7-8 (NIV)
Love Is
Love is…God and God is Love. Love is Compassion in Action, fulfilling the Master’s Commission. Love is __________. What is God’s love to you? How would you fill in the blank? How would you respond if you were asked this question by a coworker, an unbeliever, a neighbor, a friend, or a family member? Have we been a true witness of this love, the love of Jesus to everyone?
These scriptures and several other scriptures help us to understand what the true love of God is. Other scripture references that can help us are: John 3:16, Romans 5:5, Ephesians 3:17, Isaiah 54:10, John 15:13, and Romans 8:37-39. From Genesis to Revelation the Bible is filled with the power of God’s unfailing, unconditional love.
We must never be deceived into thinking that what the world tries to offer through television, movies, magazines, soap operas, novels, t-shirts, and social media is the love of God. The love the world offers is counterfeit and confusing, troubling and full of turmoil. As Christians, we are to be rooted deep in love and founded securely on Love (Ephesians. 3:17). The love of God enables us to fulfill the Great Commission—to win souls and make disciples and to love God and love others.
This is “the time” for this love of God to be demonstrated in believers at a higher and deeper level. Pastor Kuna shares with us to always walk in higher love. Higher love does not allow natural circumstances or feelings to dictate how we respond to others or situations, especially to those that seem to want to test our love walk. Higher love is responding with God’s love at all times, no matter what!
Remember the statement, “When we change….everything will change.” A woman in life group was encountering some particularly challenging situations at work with a particular co-worker. She felt this person was always trying to find ways to provoke her, especially since she knew that she was a Christian. She asked me how she should pray for her co-worker. After praying for this person, I provided her a love checklist from 1 Corinthians. 13:4-8. You see, this very situation happened to me, and this is what helped me see the person through the love of God instead of through the hurt she was trying to cause.
Example of the Love Checklist from 1 Corinthians 13:4-8:
v. 4 Love Suffers Long…Jesus suffers long….I suffer long
v. 4 Love is Kind….Jesus is Kind…I am kind
v. 4 Love does not envy….Jesus does not envy…therefore I do not envy
v. 4 Love does not parade itself….Jesus did not parade Himself…I will not parade myself
Continue to write out the remaining verses until verse 8 using this example as a template. You can also use the Amplified Classic or The Passion Translation to write your list.
I advised her to take this list with her everywhere and declare it at least 3 times a day. Similar to a prescription given by a doctor, this was her prescription to walk in Higher Love. In just a matter of time, things began to turn around. Her co-worker’s countenance, conversations, and conduct towards her changed drastically to where she was cordial to her. The Word works when we work the Word! Now, she is a life group leader and helps others with this Love list. (Pastor Donalee Pang)
Seize the Moment
Can you think of times when you knew to love beyond your feelings, but you didn’t because the words spoken against you or the situation that occurred was just too challenging? List these situations and begin to apply the love of God scriptures.
Set Your Life
Make a list today using 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 as your guide, your checklist for the love of God. Take it with you, meditate on it, declare it, and choose to live out at least 1-2 of these areas every day of your life.
Today’s Declaration
Today, I make a deliberate choice to walk in higher love, the love of God. No matter what is said or how others may react, I will respond in the love of God because God’s love never fails!
Today’s Bible Reading
- Old Testament: Numbers 28-30; Psalms 59
- New Testament: Matthew 25:1-13; Romans 8:1-17
