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MONDAY: REVELATION- how is Jesus revealing the God of Love to you?

  • Read:
    • 1 John 4:7-21
    • 1 Corinthians 13:1-13
  •  Watch
  •  Reflect
    • Why is the ability to love dependent on “knowing” God?
    • Many and probably most people in the world would say that they love to some extent, but not nearly as many people “know” God (Yahweh).  Can people truly love apart from knowing God?
    • The world shows us many false ideas of love. What do these two sections of scripture reveal about “true love”?
  •  Pray
    • Father, thank You for not only telling us what love is, but demonstrating love for us through Jesus and the early church. I pray that You will take me to a deeper level of “knowing” You. Your love is the only definition of love that is powerful enough to transform my heart and the hearts of those around me. Lord, grow this love within and through me.

 

WEDNESDAY: FORMATION- how is His Love being formed in you?

  • Read:
    • 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 – “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”
    • Galatians 5:22-23 – “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”
  • Reflect
    • Look at these two passages of scripture together.
      • What similarities do you see?
      • 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 gives us the characteristics of love. Galatians 5:22-23 shows the fruit of the Spirit.
    • Knowing God = Being Filled with The Spirit = Receiving and Releasing Love
      • Ask yourself this question. Holy Spirit, am I depending on You to love others through me or am I mainly doing it in my own strength?
  •  Pray
    • Lord, reveal to me the ways in which love is being formed in me. Show me the situations and relationships where I am leaning on my own ability and not Your ability to love through me. I confess that trying to love in my own strength is prideful and, in the end, not life giving to those around me. Holy Spirit, fill me more fully with You. Use me as a vessel to release the love that only You can release through me into this dark and broken world.

 

FRIDAY: INCARNATION – how is His Love being expressed through you?

  • Ask the Holy Spirit to bring someone to mind who needs to know God’s Love.
  • Take time to pray for them.
  • Is there something God is leading you to do for this person as an expression of His Love?