Author: Pastor Ray Patrick

God’s reason for love is given in 1 John 4:19: “We love Him because He first loved us.” Our love for God is based upon what He has done for us in Christ, and because He has poured out His Holy Spirit on us. But what is interesting about the command to love God is that it came before Christ. So what is it that should cause God to say, “Love Me”? What is it that should have caused there to be such awe of God? 

I would like to suggest that there is something wonderful about God Himself, something so awesome and that it makes people long to see Him and yet makes those same people quake in fear when they get a glimpse. There is something about Yahweh that prompts people to love Him with all that they have and yet tremble in fear because of Him. There is something that we should value not just because there is punishment if we don’t, or that we should value it because we can use it. It is better than any gold, silver, or money. It is more precious than beauty because beauty receives its quality from this reality about God. 

It is the holiness of God. Of course, when “holiness” is brought up some people cringe—even Christians cringe or at the very least hesitate when the idea of “holy” or “holiness” is applied to anything but the Holy Spirit. But the fact that we cringe or hesitate demonstrates that we have no idea what holiness really is. For if we truly understood God’s holiness we would not cringe; we would tremble in excitement and awe. 

The constant cry “Holy Holy Holy” of the beings who are always in the presence of God should cause us to want to know what they know, to see what they see. This thing about God, this holiness that should fill these creatures with wonder is that thing that is supposed to grab hold of our hearts. It is what makes the love of Jesus so spectacular. It is what makes God’s adoption of us so astonishing and astounding. 

Think of it! These exalted creatures that get to hover above God’s throne, that get to be in His presence night and day, don’t have something that we have. They cry, “Holy, holy, holy!” and the whole world shakes. If we saw what they see, if we were in His presence then we would shake and tremble and be like Isaiah the prophet who, when he stood in this holy presence, cried out, “Woe is me, for I am undone!” We would fall on our knees and implore the Lord even as Peter did, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” The holiness of God is so majestic, so beautiful, so awesome that because of our sins, we want God to go away. Because of our sin, we look with awe at the seraphim and think that is as close to God as any creature can get – but we are closer. 

Today the awesome love of God lifts us up. He lifts us up, washes us clean by the blood of Christ, and fills us with His Spirit so that the seraphim look at us in amazement, and envy our place. While they circle the throne and cry out holy, we get to draw near. We get to cry holy too, but we get to approach closer and closer. We move past the ranks of angels, past lofty seas of ancient creatures, through the circling seraphim to the very throne of God. We come, not as mere creatures, but as sons and daughters. The one, who is so holy and awesome, we get to call, “Daddy”. 

“And, I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” 2 Cor 6:18 

Let’s Pray 

Yahweh, I long to be close to you. Father, please come close to me and show me more of who you are. Help me to not drift away from you, but instead hold me close. Help me to see that the best way to draw near to you is through your Word, praying and being obedient to your calling. God, please direct me on how I can be intentional about drawing near to you. Thank you for being a God who wants a relationship with me, for being a God that wants me to be close and calls me Son. Thank you for being a God that can be known by a sinner like me. God, please come close. In Jesus’s name, Amen. 

After dealing with 4 deaths in 4 days I have concluded this is a hard season. We all face challenges and obstacles. We all have dreams in our hearts, and at times, it looks like they may not come to pass. When this happens, we have a choice. We can get negative and discouraged and talk about how things are not going to work out, or we can switch over into praise and thanksgiving, which confuses the enemy and will opens the door by faith for God to move on our behalf. 

People say, “I’ll have a good attitude as soon as I get over this health issue.” “I’ll give God praise when I get through these tough times.” But that’s not how faith works. As long as we’re negative, discouraged and focused on our problems, it limits what God can do. Faith says “You’ve got to give God praise first, and then the breakthrough will come as God wills it. ”You’ve got to change your focus first, and then things will change in your favour. Praise always precedes the victory. 

Today, if you’ve been dwelling on what’s wrong and focusing on the wrong direction, switch into praise and thanksgiving. Begin to declare that God is good all the time! Declare that He is faithful. Declare His praises and open the door to victory in every area of your life! 

“Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines…yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation” (Habakkuk 3:17–18, NKJV)

Let’s Pray

Yahweh, today I come before You, lifting You up and magnifying Your holy name. Father, this is a hard season for many with financial issues, loneliness and deaths. God, despite life’s challenges I praise and lift You up, and I thank You for Your goodness and faithfulness in my life. By faith I praise You today for all You have done and will do. I bless You and honour You for Your goodness, in Christ’ name. Amen!

Warning! Today we’re going to talk about porn which the devil is using to attack youth and adults. How? Because we all have access to phones, computers and Tablets which can access the internet at any time. That opens a huge opportunity for porn to become a part of your life. 

As a young man, I was curious about the opposite sex. I had lots of questions about sex, sexuality, and those types of things, and it was so handy to have the internet to look up any questions I had. The problem with the easy access to the internet is that pictures started to pop up and videos of people that I shouldn’t have been viewing. And before I knew it, I wanted more and more of those images. 

Now, since then, God has dealt with my heart, but with the availability of the internet, it’s very easy to secretly be looking at things that are not godly. Porn, like what I experienced, is addictive. It’s like a drug, and if you’re not careful, you can become ensnared by it. Scripture says, “I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. Looking at the images online, it’s easy to think, I’m not hurting anyone, so this is ok, this is fantasy and not reality. However, if we look at today’s verse, that’s not the truth. By simply looking at someone in a lustful way, we are committing adultery or fornication with them in our hearts. 

Friend, God doesn’t want anything to come between us and Him. And it’s easy to let those images become all we can think about. He also wants you to have a successful marriage, and if you are enslaved to porn, that makes future relationships more difficult. Porn isn’t harmless. It is something that will enslave you. So if you’re tempted in this area, begin to put good boundaries in place. 

If you are struggling here are a few boundaries that you should consider. 

1. Get a phone that doesn’t have internet. These types of phones are out there, get one.
2. Use your computer or devices only in public areas. If you’re at home, use it in the kitchen or living room. Go to the library or a public place when you need to access the internet. Knowing that someone can look over your shoulder at any time can help you avoid temptation. 
3. Ask a friend to keep your devices overnight. 
4. Sometimes the best prevention for porn is simply removing the opportunity to access it. Set up good boundaries on your devices and throughout your life and ask for God’s help to set you free from porn if you’ve already become involved. 

Today set good rules and boundaries in your life to deal with porn and sexual sin. This will help you in the future when you are married or in a lasting relationship. You might think that you won’t struggle with it when you’re married, but that’s not the truth. You still will, so now is the time to work hard, and with God’s help, you can be freed from your struggles of porn and lust. 

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you James 4:7

Let’s Pray 

Yahweh, I confess here and now that you are my Creator and therefore the creator of my sexuality. Lord, I confess that you are also my Saviour, that you have ransomed me with your blood. My life and my body belong to You. God, I present myself to you now to be made whole and holy in every way, including in my sexuality. You ask us to present our bodies to you as living sacrifices and the parts of our bodies as instruments of righteousness. Almighty God, I do this now. I present my body; my sexuality and I present my sexual nature to you. Please consecrate me for your will in Christ’s name Amen. 

Do you ever have those days of despair? Maybe you feel sad for no reason or are stressed out with the cares and concerns of life, to the point where you wonder if you can go on. That’s where today’s Bible verse comes in. 

Praise is one of the best things to do when you feel you can’t go on. Isaiah tells us that we have a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. That means we must put on praise like we would a shirt. We put on praise instead of feeling overwhelmed, upset, or full of despair. 

Today I encourage you to trade your despair for praise. You can do this by finding a praise playlist that you like on YouTube. Just search for worship music and keep it playing as much as you can. Read Psalms of praise over and over. The more you can praise, the more heaviness seems to lift. So, challenge yourself to keep praising despite your trials and watch your burden of despair be lifted.  

… provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor. – Isaiah 61:3 (NIV) 

Let’s Pray 

Yahweh, I praise you that with you, nothing is impossible. Father, Behold, you have made the heavens and the earth by Your great powerful hand, by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for You. God, please help me. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know whom to turn to. So I turn to you. Holy Spirit, please strengthen me. God, even though I don’t know all the answers, I know that you do. In the Bible, you promise to help us when we pray to you. So I pray confidently to you, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. 

Monsters aren’t just in movies or video games, we can deal with monsters in our personal lives too. They can appear out of nowhere and create all kinds of destruction. Yes, they might not be destroying buildings and hurting people, but they are dangerous. If we don’t stop the monsters in our lives, they can keep us from doing everything God has in store for us. 

What’s your monster today? Maybe it’s bitterness or rage. Bitterness is so sneaky. It can show up in our lives in ways we’ve never expected. Perhaps all the time you’ve been spending with your family right now is making you bitter at your mom, dad, or siblings, over something small or stupid. It snuck up so quietly, and now, you realize that you’ve really begun to resent them. 

The thing about bitterness is that if we let it grow, it will destroy our happiness. It’s hard to be happy when you’re upset and bitter at someone or something. Even though things are probably less than ideal in your life right now, you need to decide to not become bitter. Bitterness in your life will only cause heartache, stress, and destruction. 

Today, if bitterness has grown in your life, ask God for His help. He’s ready and willing to help you in any way He can. Ask Him to show you how you can begin to let God’s love shine through you and get rid of bitterness from your life. With God’s help, we can destroy the monster of bitterness! 

Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. – Ephesians 4:31 (NLT) 

Let’s Pray 

Yahweh, I acknowledge that I’ve held resentment and bitterness in my heart. Father, I confess this and ask You to forgive me. Help me Lord, to not hold on to bitterness or resentments, but rather to love all. God, I ask You to also forgive those who hold bitterness or resentment toward me. Thank You for hearing and answering this prayer. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. 

Sometimes the hardest thing for me to do is accept correction. When I was younger, I didn’t like admitting I was wrong. Especially if I had to admit that in front of others. Can you relate to feeling that way? Correction isn’t something we love. However, if you’re corrected by your manager, parents, teachers, or pastors, it’s usually good for you, and it helps you grow. To become wise and mature, it’s good to learn to accept constructive correction. 

Did you know that there is wisdom in accepting correction and advice from people who are around us that are wise? Often, directors, pastors, parents, and teachers in our lives have gone through things that are like what we face. Their advice is good when it’s Biblical because they normally have more life experience and wisdom than we do. 

If we will be open to accepting Godly advice and correction from others, it can help us grow, and make us wise. 

Today, if you struggle with accepting correction, ask God to help you. He will show you strategies that will help you to take corrections better. God wants good things for your life, just know that most of the people that gently correct you in your life love you, and want what’s best for you. Don’t be too proud to accept correction and learn from your mistakes. 

Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end, you will be counted among the wise. – Proverbs 19:20 (NIV) 

Let’s Pray 

Yahweh, I know I have many sins. Father, I ask that you forgive me, and also show me ways to correct my actions. Please give me correction in your Word and through wise people in my life. I want the wisdom that comes from Godly correction. In Jesus name Amen. 

The most difficult thing to do in pre-marital counselling is to have couples understand submission. The word submission has become a very emotional word for many people. Often, we resist submitting our lives to one another because we fear we will be hurt or let down. However, when we follow God’s plan for submission, the result is not low self-esteem, as some would have us believe. Instead, it is an increased love for our partner and the Lord. Jesus Christ is our model for godly submission. He submitted His life to God’s plan to the point of enduring death on the cross. He trusted the Father and brought glory to God and salvation to the world. 

When we obey God’s commands and base our relationships on His Word, our lives are transformed, and our marriages and relationships are strengthened. We learn to love one another the way Jesus loves us. When in Christ, submission no longer is an issue to be debated, it is a natural thing to do. Paul writes: As God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another, if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 

Today, do you honour your spouse or the one you are in a relationship with as yourself? Is your desire to give love and support, rather than to tear down? When we honour one another with love, we really are honouring God. 

“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love” (Ephesians 4:2). 

Let’s Pray 

Yahweh, thank You for modelling submission and trust in the Father. Lord, I submit to your will for my life and my relationships, remembering both God’s love for me and my family submitting to your perfect wisdom and love. In Christ’s name. Amen. 

Did you know that God’s love is amazing and powerful? It binds up all our emotional and spiritual wounds. If you’re feeling weak today, God’s love says, “You are valuable. I treasure you. Whatever is wrong in you, I can make it right.” Do you think you are unworthy? God’s love says, “I made you; I redeemed you; and I want you with me forever!” God’s everlasting, perfect love has the ability to rebuild you from the inside out why not let Him? 

Love can become the compelling, motivating, energizing force for what we say and do. As you face choices today, ask yourself if love is the motivating force behind your decisions. Pray for the Holy Spirit’s help so that you will reflect God’s selfless love to the people around you.  

Today, when your friend offends you, love will help you forgive them. When a stranger needs help, love will compel you to assist them. If your neighbour is hurting, love will drive you to comfort them. If you allow the Holy Spirit to work through you, love will transform the way you live your entire life. 

“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love” (1 Corinthians 16:13-14). 

Let’s Pray  

Yahweh, I pray that Your Spirit will help me today to be compelled by love in all I say and do. Father, may my life be transformed as Your Spirit works in me, teaching me to love the way You do. In Jesus’s name, Amen. 

This week during the revival in Darlington many responded to the appeal to give their lives to God. We had to remind them that, the moment they receive Christ, He transfers their citizenship to the Kingdom of heaven, and this is their ultimate identity. But even though we Christians no longer have our identity in this world, we are called to love God and our neighbour by humbly submitting to His authority He has set in place for us. 

In the scripture, Paul emphasizes that it is out of love for God that today’s Christians will willingly obey the law of God and the law of the land paying taxes etc. By diligently serving in these ways, we show our love to our neighbours and our community. We fulfil our “continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law”. In fact, Bible-believing Christians live in spiritual indebtedness. Indebtedness to whom? To God! 

Today, only God can give you the resources by which you can pay your debt to Him and he did this through Christ who paid our ransom and transferred to us His righteousness. He poured into us His Spirit, His power to love and obey. He loves through us so that we can love others. The wonder is that the more you love God, the more God pours into you to love yourself, and to love others, therefore paying your debt of love to the glory of God. Making you a citizen of the kingdom of heaven. 

“Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law” (Romans 13:8). 

Let’s Pray 

Yahweh, I know I could never pay my debt to love You and others. Father, that’s why I’m grateful You came to give me life and a heart of flesh. God, thank You for empowering me by Your Spirit to love You and others and find joy and peace therein. I pray this in Jesus’s name. Amen. 

One of the roles of godly parents is to teach compassion for others. Job trained his children to be generous, hospitable, responsible, kind, and considerate and to be leaders in building up others and the community in unity and harmony. This does not mean Job taught his children to compromise for the sake of agreement, but rather to hold strong principles and demonstrate genuine love. 

You may ask how we develop compassion for others. We first must experience God’s love and then be challenged to pass it on. Children first experience God’s love by experiencing the love of their parents. The more their parents express love to them, the quicker they are to show compassion. 

Assure your children repeatedly of God’s love, even when they disobey. Be affectionate with them, hugging and kissing them and putting your hand on their shoulders as a sign of encouragement. 

Today as we teach children about true love, let’s not link our love to any behavioural trait in our children. Let your children know you love them just as God loves them unconditionally. God loves us solely because we are His beloved, uniquely created children. Learn to love your children in the same way and they will pass it on. When you demonstrate love to your children, they gain a proper perspective of God. They learn to view the Lord as a God of love, not unnecessary wrath. 

“These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children” (Deuteronomy 6:6-7). 

Let’s Pray 

Yahweh, teach me how to communicate Your love better to my family. Father, I know when I accept your unconditional love, I will learn to love You better, and I can then pass this love on to my family and friends. Thank You for Your faithfulness in loving me despite my behaviour. in Christ’s name. Amen. 

This week while doing a revival in Darlington, I’m staying in the farm area of Cumbria in the north of England. One of the things that excite the farmers are when the first crop of the season ripens. The farmer has diligently prepared the fields, sown the seeds, and tended the seedlings. If the first fruits are good, then the farmer can have confidence that the rest of the harvest will be good as well. 

On Sunday morning of the resurrection, Jesus became the first fruit of a much greater harvest. His body had been sown like a seed on Friday, but it was then raised new, glorious, and indestructible on Sunday. What is true of the firstfruits will be true of all who trust in the name of Jesus: One day, all the dead in Christ will be raised to new life in Him. Hallelujah! 

The Corinthian Christians believed that Jesus had been raised from the dead, but they weren’t so sure about their own future resurrection. So, Paul reminds them that there are plenty of witnesses who saw Jesus with their own eyes and they can therefore find confidence in the promise of their own resurrection. 

Paul says, “brothers and sisters, if you know Jesus, you will be raised to new and glorious life, just like our Lord.” Because of this hope, we can live without fear of death and instead walk in freedom because we know death is not the end. And because we know death is not the end, we know our love in this life is not in vain. It prepares us for our future home in heaven. Indeed, love will be the culture of Christ’s heavenly city. In the meantime, our works of love in this life serve to bless others and, Lord willing, usher them into Christ’s Kingdom. 

Today, with a promise of our own resurrection, we know that now begins the life of grace, faith, and hope of eternal life. The life for which we have always longed for, we believe this life is a spiritual dress rehearsal for the one to come. We must let love and joy reign in our hearts, for with each passing day, we are one day closer to the glorious return of our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ. 

“Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58). 

Let’s Pray 

Yahweh, thank You for Your sacrifice that has given me a place with You in heavenly places for eternity. Father, may I live confidently in this life because I know my hope is sure. God, in this reality, may I love others more and remain spiritually focused. In Christ’s name. Amen. 

In context, 1 Corinthians 13 is not really about romantic love. The passage can only be properly understood when we read it in light of what came before it and what comes after it. Both chapters 12 and 14 deal with the proper role and use of spiritual gifts, and the chapter between them reminds us of the big picture: Love! The spiritual gifts God gives to Christians are to be exercised in love, Paul shows us what that love actually looks like. 

He says Love is patient, kind, neither envy, nor boasting. It is not self-seeking but self-denying. Biblical love requires something of us. Actually, it demands our all—for true love is the way of the cross. Dying to self means that we keep no record of wrongs; it means that we forgive until we lose count, for this is how Jesus deals with us. We are recipients of an astounding love, and it is God Himself who empowers us to then pour out this love to others as we submit to the leading of the Holy Spirit. 

We find it easy to tell someone that you we them, but love is only truly expressed when you die to yourself. Can you die to your opinions? Can you die to your possessions? Can you die to your feelings? That determines true love for another. 

Today, I tell you that love has no expiration date. Men and women who love Jesus will love one another for eternity. Paul wrote, “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love”. Why is love the greatest? Because in God’s presence, there will be no need for faith; we will see our Saviour face to face. Likewise, there will be no need of hope, for all our hopes will have been realized in the second coming of Christ. But love will echo on into eternity. Love will be given and received, and it will grow for ages and ages to come. God has given us the church and community so we can start practicing this eternal love. So eagerly desire this greatest gift called love. And let’s ask the Lord to work in our hearts to bring this precious fruit to bear so that it is the underlying motivation for everything we do. 

“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13). 

Let’s Pray  

Yahweh, I see that love truly is your greatest gift. Father, work this gift in me by the Holy Spirit that I may obey Your will, bless others, and be blessed myself with the joy and peace that your love brings. I pray in this in Christ’s  name. Amen. 

The government of Christ’s day turned its back on Him. The Jews repudiated Him. Those who gathered for His crucifixion jeered at Him, and many of His friends, who had been with Him for three years of ministry, abandoned Him, going into hiding after His arrest. Satan is still at work in our world today, seeking to deceive and draw men and women away from the only one who can provide the hope they need. 

Rejecting God can be subtle. You may say, “I am a Christian because I was raised in a Christian family, but I’m not too serious about church or the Bible.” Another person may believe he can live any way he chooses, and God will still save his soul because of grace. If our motive isn’t love, we have been deceived. Our condemnation is not by God for He does not condemn us. We are the ones who condemn ourselves when we reject God’s love and gift of salvation. 

Today, even when we are faithless, Jesus remains faithful. When we yield to temptation, He continues to love us, and when we seek His forgiveness, He becomes our strong advocate of mercy and grace before the throne. Christ is your dearest friend, the one who will never abandon you even though you may reject him. At the cross, He died for you, knowing that He alone could save you and give you eternal life. 

“Love never fails” (1 Corinthians 13:8). 

Let’s Pray 

Yahweh, I confess it’s hard to comprehend the depth of love You display towards me. Father, I am forever indebted to You for not rejecting me and for Your selfless gift of love. I accept you into my life and do not plan to ever reject you. In Jesus’s name. Amen. 

In the church of Corinth in the New Testament, the members couldn’t agree on much. They loved division. These Corinthians were in love with their own opinions. Instead of serving each other, they looked for opportunities to stir up dissension. Instead of loving one another, each was looking out for their own interests. 

The Corinthian church was missing the blessing of God. They were not using their opportunities to practice the love of Christ; they were not humbling themselves so that they might grow in godliness through the Holy Spirit. Let’s learn from their mistake and recognize that God has given us a community of believers with innumerable personalities and ideas for our spiritual growth. 

Today, some people may get under our skin – just as we may get on their nerves. God uses our experiences together as fallen sinners saved by grace to sanctify us. Our interactions and disagreements can become a refining fire in our lives if we together seek God’s will and love one another deeply even when we don’t want to. Remember: To be purified, gold must pass through the fire. Let’s give thanks for the body of believers, especially those with whom we struggle to get along with. God uses our Christian brothers and sisters to refine us into His likeness. Let’s continue to love despite our differences and uplift each other in prayer. 

“In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it” (1 Corinthians 11:18). 

Let’s Pray  

Yahweh, please help me to remember that the body of believers is a source of sanctification despite our disagreements. Father, I look to Your Word to guide my relationships in all areas of my life. God, give me a deep love for my fellow believers even when we have differences. Lord teach me to extend grace, remembering the grace I daily receive from Your hands. I pray this in Jesus’s name. Amen. 

SMALL STRAWS by MARSHA BURNS

Resist the temptation to be irritated or annoyed; it will only undermine your faith and tear you down. Maintain a heart of forgiveness especially toward yourself where you believe you have fallen short of your potential. And, extend grace and forgiveness to others who have offended you. My grace is sufficient. 

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 And He said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Love hates evil and rebellion. Love shows appreciation and honour for others. It compels us to give to others who are in need, even if it means sacrifice on our part. Love is not selective but extends to people we find unlovable and showscompassion, commemorates and celebrates others.

You may ask what does love look like practically? Raking upleaves for an elderly neighbour, babysitting for a single mother, cooking meals for a bereaved family, taking time to share the Gospel with a non-believer, praying with an anxious friend, or encouraging a disheartened neighbour. At times helping others will be inconvenient. The timing will be wrong for our busy schedules. The effort will seem too great for our tired bodies. The cost will be more than we can afford. But true love involves sacrifice, and there is no better example of this than our Saviour. Jesus said, “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:12-13).

Today as we think about love, this kind of altruistic other-based love, may sound impossible to maintain. And in our human strength, it is. We could never pay our “continuing debt to love one another” but God gives us the resources we need to make our payments. Through His unconditional agape love. 

“Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth” (1 John 3:18).

Let’s Pray

Yahweh, help me to follow Your example of sacrificial love. Father, help me demonstrate my love for others in a tangible, sacrificial way. God, I love you and I pray this in the name of Jesus. Amen.