Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
March 11, 2025
1 Corinthians 13:1-8
1 If I speak in tongues of human beings and of angels but I don’t have love, I’m a clanging gong or a clashing cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and I know all the mysteries and everything else, and if I have such complete faith that I can move mountains but I don’t have love, I’m nothing. 3 If I give away everything that I have and hand over my own body to feel good about what I’ve done but I don’t have love, I receive no benefit whatsoever. 4 Love is patient, love is kind, it isn’t jealous, it doesn’t brag, it isn’t arrogant, 5 it isn’t rude, it doesn’t seek its own advantage, it isn’t irritable, it doesn’t keep a record of complaints, 6 it isn’t happy with injustice, but it is happy with the truth. 7 Love puts up with all things, trusts in all things, hopes for all things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails. As for prophecies, they will be brought to an end. As for tongues, they will stop. As for knowledge, it will be brought to an end.
Good Morning. Jesus loves me. This I know!
I love it when just seeing the day’s passage makes me smile. Before reading it, I sit and revel in the joy I feel from knowing what I am about to read. Then, I prepare myself for a new revelation from a beloved verse!
7 Love puts up with all things, trusts in all things, hopes for all things, endures all things.
Think of someone or something that annoys or irritates you. Despite your annoyance, you put up with them or it anyway. Why would you do this? The only answer that makes sense is love.
I love Neon, my sweet, funny dog. He provides me with companionship, and he makes me laugh. Both of these are invaluable characteristics that bring joy to my day. Sometimes, Neon leaves me “presents” to clean up. It is irritating, especially when we had been outside just minutes before, but I put up with his bad habit because it is minor compared to the unconditional love he offers me.
For the sake of love, God puts up with us, his broken, messy children. No matter how badly we fail, God loves us even when we turn our backs and refuse to talk with him! God knows everything we are enduring and waits patiently for us to turn over our grief, worries, fears, and pain.
I imagine the pain God experiences watching us suffer when we delay letting go of those things that hurt us. God shares each tear we shed and each heartache we suffer. God is our faithful companion, waiting at the door, ready to greet us when we return home. God is love! Read these verses with God inserted in place of the word love.
God is patient, God is kind, God isn’t jealous,
God doesn’t brag; God isn’t arrogant, 5 God isn’t rude,
God doesn’t seek his own advantage; God isn’t irritable,
God doesn’t keep a record of complaints,
6 God isn’t happy with injustice, but God is happy with the truth.
7 God puts up with all things, trusts in all things,
hopes for all things, endures all things. 8 God never fails.
Loving Lord, Maker of all things! You love us unconditionally! Thank you. We love you, Lord! In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: God’s love fills us with joy!
Love is the goo that holds us together! Pastor Liz
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