Liz’s Morning Devotional based upon Upper Room
February 23, 2022
Read 1 John 4:7-15
7 Dear friends, let’s love each other, because love is from God, and everyone who loves is born from God and knows God. 8 The person who doesn’t love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how the love of God is revealed to us: God has sent his only Son into the world so that we can live through him. 10 This is love: it is not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son as the sacrifice that deals with our sins. 11 Dear friends if God loved us this way, we also ought to love each other. 12 No one has ever seen God. If we love each other, God remains in us and his love is made perfect in us. 13 This is how we know we remain in him and he remains in us because he has given us a measure of his Spirit. 14 We have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the savior of the world. 15 If any of us confess that Jesus is God’s Son, God remains in us and we remain in God.
Good Morning! Beloved, let us love one another with love that comes from God.
This morning is another opportunity to talk about love. For love is of God and everyone who loves is born of God. The power of God is rooted in the love of God for all creation. God loves us and all who call upon the Holy Name of God should love each other.
There are those in the world who do not know God, there are those who doubt the power of a “silly” belief in love. By earthly rules, love will get you nowhere but broken-hearted. To survive in this world, you have to be tough, and you must never let anyone see your vulnerable side because this is a sign of weakness. These ideas are not mine, but they are in the hearts of many who struggle each day to find food, shelter, and a sense of belonging.
How can we as Christians share the love of God with those in such immense need? Just as Jesus did on his time on this earth, we have to be willing to step into the mud, the messiness of life. We must never forget that we all don’t live in houses with manicured lawns and all that that implies. If we sit in our homes and in our churches and wait for the needy to come to us, we can falsely believe that everyone is okay because no one comes forward for help.
God tells us that Jesus is the Son of God and that we should stop and pay attention to what Jesus says and does. Jesus did not spend time sitting in the temple awaiting the arrival of the poor, the outcasts, or those in need. No! Jesus went out and shared with everyone where they lived even if it meant that he had to walk or sit in the “mud” to find them.
Jesus comes to us the same way. Jesus doesn’t ask us to put on airs and pretend that we are someone we’re not. We are all sinners and all have our personal demons and afflictions. Jesus accepts us for who we are and where we are at this moment and with the power of love saves us. We are called to follow his example so that everyone might be saved and no one perishes. Let us measure our lives in the amazing love that God gives us.
Loving God, Thank You for loving us. LOVE! The greatest power that is ever known. Help us learn to love everyone with all that we have. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: I will take the time to see each person I meet as a child of God.
Talk about love! Pastor Liz
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