Devotion
The God-Kind of Love
Chipo Biti
1 Corinthians 13 has always been the go-to portion of the Bible when it comes to defining God's kind of love. God's love far exceeds any other form of love that exists on earth. We often tend to think the love that is shown in books and romantic movies it the kind of love that matters the most. That love is often an inaccurate description of what love is meant to be. Love is not about the butterflies in the belly or the kisses at the end of the movie. The love that the media shows you is nothing compared to the love of God. Paul described God's love in these few lines but these words are powerful.
Love endures long. This means that love is patient beyond all human reasoning. When others choose to walk away, love chooses to remain and be kind. That is exactly what God did for us. He loved us and still loves us through everything - good, bad, and ugly.
Love is not envious and it is not vain. God put us before His interests many times. He could have chosen to protect his feelings by cutting us off, but he didn't. He could have programmed us to follow his every beck and call but He didn't do that either. He stuck to His promise of giving us the ability to choose - even if we chose against Him.
Prayer
Love is not meant to be about finding ways for you to benefit from other people. God did not redeem us to fulfill His selfish intentions. He saved us so that we would not have to go through the horrors and suffering of paying for our own sins. He did this because of His love for us.
Love does not rejoice in iniquity but always rejoices in the truth. God has always been truthful with His people, no matter what. He is for us and He corrects us when need be. Not only that but he has borne many things with us, believed in us, and always hoped for the best.
Where the words of man have failed, God's love has never failed.
It never has and it never will. We can always be confident of that.
Night Prayer
Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
Inspiration
Sin will enslave us and become the master of our lives if allowed. Sin binds us in darkness, and we become submissive to our fears. Jesus is a light in the dark, and we have accepted Him as our Lord and Savior. Sin has no control over us! We have repented our sinful ways and surrendered our lives to the will of God. Serving Him replaces a life of misery with joy and peace.
Prayer
Dear God, we ask forgiveness for our transgressions. We surrender our lives to You and will serve You instead of our sinful desires. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Devotion
Are You Wise or Foolish?
Frances Taylor
Today's gospel concerns a group of bridesmaids waiting for the bridegroom to come and whether or not they will be prepared. Five are pretty sure that the bridegroom will show up when expected and so do the least they need to do and the other five decide that something may come up and want to be prepared just in case. What about ourselves? Whether you are sick or healthy today, you don't know what tomorrow brings.
I remember when my father was ill. He would enter the hospital, then somehow rally and be sent home. When this happens more than once, it is easy to be lulled into a sense of false security and believe that he would always rally. That kind of thinking can make it harder when the final day comes. My son rarely had a sick day in his life and yet was cut off while riding his motorcycle and was dead before he even had a chance to be afraid. It has always been my hope that both were wise and had lived their lives prepared to meet the ...
