Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres. (1 Corinthians.13:7)

Day 2

Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres. (1 Corinthians.13:7)

When you hear this verse, what does it make you think of?  Could it be you thought of your husband and children?    Who loves us more than our family?  God does!  Where do we learn to love the way God does?  God shows us His Love in His word, in our prayers, in our conversations with fellow Christians, in our churches, in our circumstances, and sometimes as we just listen and practice love.

If one of your children does something that you do not approve of, do you ignore it, talk about it or forgive it?  Is there room for discipline?  Yes, of course.  If we love as God does, we will discipline as God would, with love and faith that we are doing the right thing.  We want to be loving and forgiving; we can with the help of the Holy Spirit.  It is good to keep good relationships with our children; we never know what tomorrow will bring.  We have to persevere through trials in this life and trust that God will use us to help our children grow in their love for Him.

If a friend disappoints us, should we never talk to them again?  No, we go and talk about the problem with them and love them enough to forgive them.  Is this easy, no, but it has been said, “love covers a multitude of sin”.  So true, if we are truly one of God’s children, with the help of the Holy Spirit we can forgive.  Without Him, it is very difficult to do.

      God has promised to never leave us or forsake us.  (Hebrews 13:5b)

We could name many incidents in our life of betrayal but in all of the circumstances we must always remember, God loves us and is in all of our lives all of the time.  His love is greater than we can imagine and He will see us through anything.

We must love God and practice loving others so that one day when we stand before the Lord He will say, “well done thou good and faithful servant”.

Dear God,

Help us to put you first in all things, to love others as you have loved us, Show us how to live our lives for you and fulfill the destiny you have chosen for us. 

Amen

Questions for Reflection

The devotional reads: “God shows us His love in His Word, in our prayers, in our conversations with fellow Christians, in our churches, in our circumstances, and sometimes as we just listen and practice love.”

Can you think of examples where you have learned of God’s love through each of these? 

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Presently, who do you need to talk with about something that they have done to hurt you and challenge your love?  Whose sin does your love need to cover? 

Read and reflect on Ephesians 5:1-2 as a help in the circumstances where your love needs to rise to the occasion and hang in there with someone you find difficult:

¹ Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children ² and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

How does this help your perspective?  Your courage? 

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What further help do you need to take the necessary steps to protect, hope and persevere in your love ? 

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