Posts Tagged ‘ Love ’

VerseD: Philippians 2:3

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
Philippians 2:3 ESV

Just as Christ did not rely on His divinity while on earth, but denied Himself to the point of dying to redeem us, we should love others enough to take care of their needs before our own.

VerseD: Romans 8:39

nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:39, ESV

God’s love is unconditional. Only those who put their faith in Christ are saved, but He loves each one of His creations.

VerseD: 1 Corinthians 13:1

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
1 Corinthians 13:1 ESV

Everything we do and say should glorify God and draw others to Him. If what we say and do only scares people away and/or distracts from God, we may not be acting in love.

VerseD: Colossians 3:16

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
Colossians 3:16, ESV

We read, memorize, and live out Scripture, because by it the Holy Spirit moves through us to lift each other up in Christ in wisdom and thankfulness and through conversations and singing God’s truth.

VerseD: Galatians 5:14

For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Galatians 5:14, ESV

Loving others includes helping in times of need; sacrificing time, money, energy, and comfort; leading from sin to repentance and Christ; and merely being present and attentive.

VerseD: Hebrews 10:24

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works
Hebrews 10:24, ESV

Love God, love people, love the Church.

How?

Grow in godliness as we spur and encourage each other – with Scripture, prayer, and sacrifice – to love on this fallen world.

VerseD: Genesis 1:27

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
Genesis 1:27, ESV

God made us, so He absolutely has the right to set the standard, tell us what is best for us, and how we ought to live.

We should listen and obey our Creator and love Him for loving us so much.

VerseD: Matthew 1:21

“She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
Matthew 1:21, ESV

Joseph and Mary were willing servants of God to bring the Savior into the world.

Likewise, we carry Christ to this world to show the world their need for the One who has removed their sins by His sacrifice.

Preparing Your Heart – The Fourth Week of Advent 2019

We are finishing up our advent series, first shared five years ago!

It is now the fourth week of Advent! (See the last three weeks’ devotional thoughts here (and here) and here (and here) and here (and here).)

Again, Advent is a time to remember our Lord’s first coming as we look forward to His imminent return.

So, let us prepare hearts for encountering the Lord!

There is a slight twist today in presentation, as well, as we prepare for Christmas!

O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of the dear Saviour’s birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining.
Till He appeared and the Spirit felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!
O night divine, the night when Christ was born;
O night, O Holy Night , O night divine!
O night, O Holy Night , O night divine!

At first we are reminded that sometimes life is going well.
Then we are reminded that sometimes life is hard.

Life seems perfect and flawless.
Or we are dealing with an illness, a tragedy, or the loss of a loved one.

The answer, in any circumstance good or bad, is to fall on our knees and acknowledge that we need a Savior, to seek the God who came to save us from our sin and suffering by coming to us as an infant, the weakest of all things.

Led by the light of faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
O’er the world a star is sweetly gleaming,
Now come the wisemen from out of the Orient land.
The King of kings lay thus lowly manger;
In all our trials born to be our friends.
He knows our need, our weakness is no stranger,
Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!
Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!

The Light of the world calls us to Himself, and only the wise heed His call. Only the wise understand that He truly understands all of our hurts and needs and can help us because He has been through it all.
And He deserves our adoration and worship.

Truly He taught us to love one another,
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains he shall break, for the slave is our brother.
And in his name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
With all our hearts we praise His holy name.
Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we,
His power and glory ever more proclaim!
His power and glory ever more proclaim!

It is not only our trials and pains which he helps, but He has called us to love all other people.
We not only see our need for salvation from sin and God’s wrath, we see our need for His love to fill our hearts, to treat our friends, enemies, and strangers alike as brothers and sisters, with love and compassion.

And for ever we shall worship Him and declare His awesomeness!

For He has come to save and will come again a final time to fully redeem His own, and that is the full promise of the gospel!

He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!

The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.
Revelation 22:20-21, ESV

VerseD: 1 John 4:19

We love because he first loved us.
1 John 4:19, ESV

When we think of how the Father sacrificed His Son for our forgiveness out of His loved for us, we should be overcome with love for God and the lost He came to save.