Today's Verse - 1 Corinthians 13:4-5

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

—1 Corinthians 13:4-5

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

True love does not focus on itself, but on others. Each of these qualities of love - patience, kindness, does not envy, does not boast, is not proud, is not rude, is not self-seeking, is not easily angered, keeps no records of wrongs - is based on an affectionate, compassionate, and forgiving attitude that regards others as valuable to us, and to Jesus. Rather than placing value only on ourselves and our desires, we remember how Jesus lived and seek to have a heart like his (Philippians 2:5-11). This kind of love comes from the power of the Holy Spirit within us (Romans 5:5; Galatians 5:22-23). It is part of the Spirit's transforming us into more JESUShaped people (2 Corinthians 3:18). The old saying is true: "In the middle of all SIN is a big I!" When "I" become more important than others, when what "I" want and how "I" win are more significant than what others truly need, then "I" have lost my way and do not display the love of Christ.

My Prayer...

Holy God and Sacrificial Father, please teach us to notice others and value them just as you do and as Jesus demonstrated while on earth. We know you loved us when we were not lovable, and redeemed us when we were not worthy. So we ask for the Holy Spirit's help in having the heart like yours, as we take our focus off ourselves, and seek to see others as you do. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.

All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.

Today's Verse - 1 Corinthians 13:1-3

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

—1 Corinthians 13:1-3

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Love!
In the days leading up to Valentine's Day, let's remember the real meaning of true love (1 John 4:8-12) and not dilute it with the many sappy expressions of limited human love, oftentimes based in lust rather than genuine love. I am certainly not against expressing our love to others on Valentine's Day, but it can get so sappy, sentimental, and manipulative. Without our motivations centered on why we are expressing love, all "Christian" activities are more motion and commotion than true love. True love is the expression of Christ's sacrificial character through deeds of love offered to others without expecting anything in return (1 John 3:16-18). Let's refuse to get lost in the annual trip down sentimentality lane. Too many of us forget the needed daily dose of love that so often gets lost in the grit of day-to-day relationships. Let's be loving all year-round, showing ourselves to be Jesus' true disciples (John 13:34-35).

My Prayer...

Loving Heavenly Father, thank you for demonstrating your love for us in Jesus. Help us to love as Jesus did - selflessly, sacrificially, and consistently - so others may know of your love through our actions and not just our words. In Jesus name, and to love as he has loved us, we pray. Amen.

All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.

Today's Verse - 2 Thessalonians 1:3

We ought always to thank God for you, brothers, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing.

—2 Thessalonians 1:3

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

"Please increase my faith, O, LORD."
"Please increase my strength, dear God."
"Please increase my wisdom, Father."
We often pray for these kinds of things, but when was the last time you prayed asking God to increase your capacity to love, and your congregation's capacity to love others? Can you think of anything more exciting to say about your friends and fellowship than to say, "The love everyone has for each other is increasing, and that love for those around them who don't know Jesus is growing!" Let's pray and act to make this dimension of our love real and noticeable to the broken world that is fractured all around us!

My Prayer...

Holy God, may your love fill me as I seek to share it with those I meet each day. May this love grow and increase so that others may readily see its benefits and recognize that it is a direct response to the lavish love you have shared with me. I trust that as I seek to grow in love, the Holy Spirit will empower me to love in greater ways (Romans 5:5), ways that are beyond my capacity, so that others recognize it is your love working through me. Through the power of your Spirit, please empower my love to increase! In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.