Morning Devotional 051526 Begin and End with Love

Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room

May 15, 2026

Proverbs 16:1-7

1 To people belong the plans of the heart, but the answer of the tongue comes from the LORD. 2 All the ways of people are pure in their eyes, but the LORD tests the motives. 3 Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will succeed. 4 The LORD made everything for a purpose, even the wicked for an evil day. 5 The LORD detests all who are arrogant; they surely won’t go unpunished. 6 Love and faithfulness reconcile guilt; the fear of the LORD turns away evil. 7 When people draw favor from the LORD, even their enemies are at peace with them.  

Good Morning! Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

How do we measure success? Our answer depends upon the foundation of our lives. If we are working toward earthly success, then our answer includes wealth, power, prestige. However, if we lead to achieve heavenly success, then our answer includes loving and serving one another as God loves and serves us. 

Whereas earthly success is quantitative with specific numeric values gained (the what or how much), heavenly success is qualitative and represents meaning, experiences, and relationships (the why or how). 

As children of God, our why begins and ends with love. Because God first loved us, we are called to share the love with all we meet. 

1 John 4:7-9, 17-19

7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. 17 This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. 18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 19 We love because he first loved us. 

God of Love, you bless us abundantly! Help us focus our lives on your love. Thank you. We love you. In Christ’s name we pray, Amen.

Thought for the day: Start and End each day with God’s love.

We love because he first loved us!  Pastor Liz