Verse of the Day 2/29

1 Corinthians 13:7 (AMP)  Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening].

 

I ended yesterday's devotional with the chorus to the Steve Green song "Teach Me to Love".  I mentioned that only God can truly teach us to love, but we can teach each other as we imitate Christ and His love as Paul challenges us in 1 Corinthians 11:1 (NKJV) Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.

 

A friend posted the following in his blog "My Silent Scream" yesterday, "You and I can learn to become more loving.  We can teach one another to be more loving.  Only through humbly admitting our unloving side can we really find help, healing, and wholeness.  .... That's what the fear of God does, it allows our brokenness to draw us closer to God in dependence and interdependently closer to other people."    Thanks Scott.

 

For those of us that are married, it starts in our marriages with Christ as our teacher and guide.  Reading the Amplified Bible translation you cannot help but be reminded of wedding vows.  Looking back over your marriage (if you're married) have you been able to "bear up under anything" that has come your way?  Have you and are you ready to believe the best of your spouse and others?  Has it endured everything that the world has thrown at you?

 

If you can say yes, I'd say that your love has hope that is fadeless in all circumstances.  May it endure without weakening.

 

May we all be able to recognize and admit our "unloving side" and find the help, healing and wholeness that we find in the love of Christ.

 

In Christ,
Mike

 

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Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace  NIV

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 New Living Translation (NLT)

 ⁴ Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud ⁵ or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. ⁶ It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. ⁷ Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.