We love because he first loved us.
1 John 4:19
All that you do for the Lord is not for nothing. He sees it. But more than that, they can see it. Don’t gauge your worth by others’ responses. When you love, but they attack, so often it’s because they are filled with the pain of past rejections and misunderstandings. Others have misunderstood them, and so they imagine you have, too.
Keep reaching in. Keep loving beyond borders. Don’t ever stop loving them or going the second mile. Matthew 5:41. Because Jesus never stopped going that second, and third, and 100th mile with you.
Love. As you first have been loved.
Lord, please help me love others as You first loved me. I so easily focus on how their words or actions affect me, I forget that You said to forgive “seventy times seven.” Matthew 18:22. I forget how You interceded on the cross for the very people who crucified You. Luke 23:34. I forget that this life was not supposed to be about how well others treat me. It’s about You, Lord. About knowing You, receiving Your great love for me, loving You back, and loving others through Your love so they can know You, too. Matthew 22:37-40. Why do I make it about me time and time again? Forgive me, Lord. And teach me to love as You love. To see each person the way You see them. To feel compassion for them as You do. To pray for those who persecute me. To walk in the love, joy and peace that are mine when I let Your Spirit control me, rather than my past hurts, anger, loneliness and fear. Galatians 5:22-25. I want to be like You, Lord. I have such a long way to go, but You have promised that You are faithful to complete the good work You’ve started in me. Philippians 1:6. Set me free from all that has held me back from more of You. Empower me to love as You love and to walk in the fullness of all You created me to be in You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
For deep Bible studies like Delight to Be a Woman of God, Dare to Be a Man of God and other powerful resources for all ages on receiving God’s love and loving well, visit MoreThanAConquerorBooks.com.
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