Valentine’s Day-LOVE
Love
What is love and why does it matter?
Love is the foundation of the Christian faith:
· 1 John 4:8 states that “God is love.”
· John 3:16 states that “God loved the world so much that he gave his only son, Jesus, as a sacrifice so whomever believes in Him would have eternal life.”
· In Matthew 22:34-37 Christ gives us the greatest commandment, Love: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind… Then, love your neighbor as yourself.”
Ok, so what exactly does Love look like?
1 Corinthians 13:4 breaks down exactly what Love is and what Love is not.
Love is: Patient and Kind. Pretty simple concept…
Love is not:
Envious (Feeling discontent, resentful)
Boastful (I am so good at…)
Proud (I am more superior than…)
Dishonoring (shame on you for…)
Self-seeking (My needs are more important)
Easily angered (opposite of patient/kind)
Love does not keep any records of wrongs or delight in evil. Love rejoices with the truth.
Instead, love always protects, trust, hopes and perseveres. Love never fails.
Ok, that’s great but how does that impact my daily life?
Whenever someone drinks alcohol, their body is influenced, and their behavior starts to change (for better or worse). It is impossible for humans to consume a significant amount of alcohol without their body being physiologically influenced and their behavior changing, impacting their nervous system, etc.
Just like alcohol, love will impact and change your behavior, speech, mood, conduct, priorities, etc. The question to consider today is this: where does my source of love come from and how do I get more of it? Does it come from the Holy Spirit as a gift from God or is it situational, based on my current state of affairs?
Do my actions as a Christian reflect these virtues?
Why or why not?
What action can you take today to make a conscious choice to change to get one step closer to what love looks like?
Further study:
Luke 12:34, Galatians 5:13-18, Ephesians 6:5-9, Titus 3:1-11
Fruits of the (Holy) Sprit
Galatians 5:22 describes the fruits of the Spirit. If we parlay what we learned about Love, we can add to it by bearing the fruit of the Spirit that comes from pursuing Christ. We learn this from His teachings (and Paul’s multiple letters) laid out in the New Testament.
“The fruits of the Holy Spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” Galations 5:22
Let’s break each one down and apply it to our lives.
Love: see last week’s devotional by clicking here.
Joy: James 1:2
Peace: Philippians 4:6-7
Patience: Psalm 27:14
Kindness: Colossians 3:12, Ephesians 4:32
Goodness: Psalm 143: 10
Gentleness: Proverbs 15:1
Faithfulness: Psalm 100:5, Joshua 1:5-9, Hebrews 11:1-3
Self-Control: Proverbs 18:21, Proverbs 12:18
Grace
Grace is transformational. Remember that it is a gift that is received, not earned. God gave it to us through his Son’s sacrifice on the cross.
Freely receive this grace, freely give it. Grace gives us the ability to transform any relationship that we have.
Ephesians 2:8, 2 Corinthians 12:8-9, Romans 6:14, James 4:6
Wisdom
God tells us in James that anyone who lacks wisdom to ask for it and it will freely be given to him. James 1:5
Proverbs covers advice on everything, finances to freedom, family, relationships, neighbors, work, etc.
Study wisdom and pursue it. Wisdom begins with fearing God and abiding by his principles for living. Proverbs 1:7
James 1:5, Proverbs 1:7, Proverbs 2:6, Proverbs 3:5, Proverbs 4:7