“Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and His love is made complete in us… If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have 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 a faith that can move mountains, but does not have love, I am nothing.
If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. 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.
But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears.
When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a (woman), I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now, we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
And now these three remain faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love… Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters.”
1 John 4:11-12; 1 Corinthians 13; Hebrews 13:1
Love is essential…real selfless love.
In fact, “Do everything in love.” 1 Corinthians 16:14
And when God says everything, He actually does mean everything!
There are no exceptions – NONE!
Your turn …
Examine yourself…all your motives for all you do.
If love does not head the list and in fact dominate your motivation, make the change and make it now.
The world around us desperately needs to see the love of God.
And now sit and pray …
“How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard running down on Aaron’s beard, down on the collar of his robe. It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the LORD bestows His blessing, even life forevermore.”
Psalm 133
“The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children.
Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up… Above all, love each other deeply because love covers over a multitude of sins…
Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
Deuteronomy 6:4-7; 1 Peter 4:8; Matthew 22:37-39
How to do this as a weekly Bible study
Day One: Experience
Read the entire devotion. Do any verses stand out to you? If so, write it down and work on memorizing it over the week. I personally love the app “Scripture Typer.”
Day Two: Observe & Read
Chain. Look up and chain verses (For example on how to chain verses, see this video).
Day Three: Interpret
Read through the chain of verses starting with the first one. What do they say? Do you notice when it says “never” or “always” or “If, but, however, therefore, all…..”
Day Four: Application
Do “Your turn” and make a list of people that God has put on your heart when you read this.
Day Five: Testify
Who in your life, right now, can you share this with? There is somebody in your life that needs to hear this. Close your eyes. What name came to mind?
Would you like to get more involved in the beLydia Movement?
Parents and friends, there are kids being sold for sex right now and they are still going to school and their parents have no idea.
They are being tricked, (often through social media and texting apps) into sharing compromising photos and then trapped into selling more or are tricked into having sex.
WE CAN PREVENT THIS THROUGH SHARING AWARENESS.
Learn more about how you can get involved and prevent child sex trafficking
