Community Devotions

Love Bears All Things

SCRIPTURE

"Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things” - 1 Corinthians 13:7

OBSERVATION

Love is an “all-in” proposition. There is nothing moderate, lukewarm or temporary about it. It is a radical, extreme, throw-your-heart-over-the-line, die hard commitment. Paul uses the adverb “all” to describe how comprehensive the reach and extent of love is. First of all, it bears all things. It means to keep confidential, cover, pass over in silence. It is a term that would describe covering or enclosing in such a way that would keep something undesirable from coming in i.e. water into a ship. Love then puts a lid on any untrue thoughts or negative assumptions on a loved one. It silences passing judgements on people’s motives. 

APPLICATION

Just as the captain of a ship must be vigilant to enclose and keep water out so that the ship does not sink, I must be equally watchful to enclose negative thoughts from sinking my heart. Put a lid on all thoughts that are false, dishonorable, unjust, impure, not lovely, not commendable and not excellent (Phil. 4:8). Discipline my thought life and silence negative things about those I love. Stop entertaining things that are not excellent but instead think about and meditate in praiseworthy things. Bear all things and discreetly cover the shortcomings of my loved ones. Whether it’s family, church staff or congregant—pass over all dishonorable thoughts in silence and cover with grace and unconditional love.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for being love! Lord help me to go for broke and go all-in for unconditional love. Thank you for bearing, believing, hoping, and enduring all things for me on the cross! May I live out in love what I have bountifully partaken and received in Christ. Holy Spirit please strengthen me to love you first, then Renee and the kids, and then your people. I love you so much! Maranatha!

At All Costs

SCRIPTURE

“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry. During that time the devil came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.” But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Matt. 4:1-4

OBSERVATION

Jesus was the true example of someone who was steadfast and one with a flawless reputation. He never broke down and gave into selfishness and showed us the greatest definition of self-control. If you put yourself in Jesus’ shoes and think if you didn’t eat for forty days and nights, you would feel very depleted or as they say now “hangry.” If we miss one meal or even a couple hours pass our normal eating time, we get irritable. Can you imagine doing that for 40 days? God showed us through His Son the greatest example of what it means to “die to yourself.” Many of us would’ve probably given in to satisfy our immediate hunger pains but Jesus teaches us through this that our lives do not depend on our next meal…it relies on the Word of God and the power of Jesus Christ.

APPLICATION

I know for myself, I am always talking with my husband or my friends about what restaurant to try next or what meal we are craving but do I have this same zest talking about the Word of God? More than that, do we “crave” the Word of God as if it’s all we have to live on. To live as Christ lived and never give into temptation, selfishness, or compromise our reputation…do we truly live all that we should be? We have to count all the costs and not get caught up into the busyness of life but live as if the Word of God is all we have and our last breath depended on it.

PRAYER

Dear Lord Jesus, I want to live as you lived. I want my reputation to reflect that which is when people see me, all they see is you. I don’t want to feed my cravings of selfishness or impatience or anything that is less than what you want from us, but rather all the attributes you showed us when you were being tempted in the wilderness. I don’t want to give in but be steadfast and stalwart in my walk with you and at the end of the day- I always chose YOU! Lord, may my life always please you and may my actions bring you delight. I love you with all my heart! Amen