SCRIPTURE: 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 “CHARITY (LOVE) suffereth long, and is kind; CHARITY envieth not; CHARITY vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. 8 CHARITY never faileth…”
THOUGHT: Charity is an old English word for LOVE. One of the well known and most often quoted descriptions of LOVE is from this Bible passage in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. Here in this passage the characteristics and attributes at the heart of LOVE are expressed. This tells us how true love behaves, even when circumstances are not at their best.
SCRIPTURE: 1 John 4:7-8 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for GOD IS LOVE.
THOUGHT: Another passage is 1 John 4:7-8 where we are implored to “LOVE one another: for LOVE is of GOD… GOD IS LOVE.”
SCRIPTURE: John 3:16 For GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
THOUGHT: Finally, what may be the most known and most used of the three is John 3:16 where we learn that GOD SO LOVED that He took action by giving up what was precious to Him and doing something for the object of His LOVE. How do you demonstrate your love for God, your love for your family and your love for others? Is your love like God’s love?
PRAYER: Dear Heavenly Father and GOD OF LOVE: I am grateful that Your love caused You to take action and move at Your own expense to bring salvation and deliverance to me. Help me to be delivered from envy, pride, selfishness, impatience, etc., so that I can develop a greater measure of true love. Fill me with love that causes me to move out of my own self-interest and to be more like You in doing things that show my love for You and for others. In Jesus’ Name, AMEN!