Day 9: Love
Good to Know:
Jesus liked the word love. His love in us should transform everything we do. Today, God shows us what He means by everything.
1 John 4:7-13 NLT
Loving One Another
Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.
Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.
And God has given us his Spirit as proof that we live in him and he in us.
Romans 12:9-21 NLT
Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them.Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all!
Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.
Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say,
“I will take revenge;
I will pay them back,”
says the Lord.
Instead,
“If your enemies are hungry, feed them.
If they are thirsty, give them something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap
burning coals of shame on their heads.”
Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.
Good to Do:
With whom do I need to live in peace today?
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We were doing a study at church on Kenneth Hagan’s book ” The Love walk”. I was struggling with it, as there was a lady who just grated on my last nerve, and I was finding it hard to love her. I talked to Pastor Mark Dehbenke about it, and this is what he said, “Michelle, God says we have to love everybody, but He never said we have to hang out with them!” I have followed those words of wisdom for a long time now. I have learned to forgive quickly, because most of the time, the person who… Read more »
Michelle, completely agree. My biggest struggle is when that person is a coworker. I am also one who chooses to forgive and love. However, when it comes to that coworker that irritates me and pushes my buttons, l have trouble with forgiveness and love. My outer appearance my show love but my heart is not. I keep reminding myself that God loves him/she just as much as He loves me. I am constantly asking God for forgiveness for not loving on them. Trying to find something that you appreciate about that person is where I usually start and my heart… Read more »
I had a person who really annoyed me. Like everything he did annoyed me. Since killing him wasn’t an option and divorce was out of the question , I decided to pray for God to change me. I asked for Him to change my heart and my attitude. Amazingly, he’s not nearly as annoying now.
I am in the same situation ! Killing him is not an option!!! Love it! Thank you! Had forgotten to ask the Lord to change me! Simple thing as that, knowing that, I had not thought I’d it! Thank you, I feel hopeful! After 50 years of marriage, I know we should get along better!
Like that: we can love everyone but we don’t have to hang out with them!
“If I hold on to that mess, I am only hurting myself.” I love what you said there. God taught me this many years ago and the more I learn to let go of hurt and just love people the better my life has been. Truly. Holding grudges doesn’t hurt the person the grudge is against nearly as much (or at all) like it hurts you.
This message came at the absolute perfect time. My uncles hurt me really bad along with some other people and I have been struggling really bad to Love and forgive them. I want so bad to Hurt them like they have hurt me and have them cry like they have done to me. But reading this message helps to remind me of my duty as child of God. Thanks for this well timed message.
This love walk isn’t always easy especially when deep hurt occurs from people you know but remember you must let it go with God’s help. They are not hurting or feeling bad. Those people who hurt us are going on with their lives and we must do the same. We must pray for God to comfort our heart and heal the pain that so many people have inflicted on us. I am honestly speaking for myself as well.
Thanks for the encouragement!
That was so good , thank you.❤️🙏🐑🕊⚓️🐟🕎✝️
Romans 12:9-21 was a reminder for me with regard to somethings going on, some things that I am struggling with in my life RIGHT NOW.
Hey Rhonda- Sorry to hear you’re going through a struggle right now. If you ever need some extra support, we all would love to pray with you on the Prayer Wall.
Thank You Lord for loving a sinner like me!
We are commanded to love thy neighbor. Love one another. Why is such a hard concept for us? He first loved us. This should be easy right? I try to love and have a hard time sometimes when that person cuts me off in traffic or some one is rude to someone else. I am a work in progress. Love it’s what we are to do.
Love that song by Leanna Crawford “ I’m a Work in Progress !! We all are ! God is not done with us yet ! 😉
I really needed this reminder today. Man He has timing down
I love my children more than words can say. To watch them suffer, just about kills me. I could not imagine what God went through to see his only son suffer so much. To me, this proves how much we mean to him.
This is so hard for me Some people have wronged me so deeply that the thought of ever loving them just does not seem possible.
One of the biggest acts of love I had to give was when I was physically attacked by a family member who has an addiction problem. Not only was I physically hurt, but I was also heart broken. I had a lot of anger toward this person for some time, I had went back to a dark place that I had been when I was a child {I was abused } and I hate that place. The Father didn’t allow me to stay there, He came to me, picked me up and dusted me off and reminded me who I… Read more »
This is really hard but when I do this it’s powerful. Showing love to those who lets say aren’t to happy with me frees me inside and out!
Dear God, please help me to continue to love everyone. Help me meet their needs so they will feel your love. Amen!
The older I get the more I am willing to show love. When I know it come from God and He is within me the best way to let the world know that God is real is to show people love.
Yes, I did just that. Now God has come to avenge because they did not repent.
God is good. ❤️🙏🐑🕊🐟⚓️🕎✝️
Reduce me to love another good one. Joyce Meyer. ♥️✝️
Sometimes it’s hard for me to love somebody for what they did to me and would love someone that is destroying our country and I know I don’t know them and we supposed to love everybody, but to see what they are doing it’s hard to find that love for them. But I do do my best.
Yeah, I’m 60 now and it’s still hard to let go of past hurts. The only way I’m able to is to remind myself over and over and over, “God’s got this, and He WILL do what’s right!” And, like you said, loving people who do such bad things is so difficult! I struggle to love them, but I have to remind myself that the love does not come from me, “love comes from God. …God lives in us, and HIS love is brought to full expression IN us.” But, in order to let God’s love flow through me, I… Read more »
Does living in Peace with someone mean you do not have to have contact? If so I have nailed that!
Wendy, I don’t know if not having contact with a person you struggle to love is the right answer completely, but I do believe that you can “take a break” from that person(s). I use to struggle with the whole “Love” everyone concept, but I came to realize just how much Jesus loved (s) His enemies when they were crucifying Him… Loving our enemies can be extremely difficult but with a lot of prayer and staying in the Word, God can help us overcome that struggle to love…. That doesn’t mean they have to be your best friend, but you… Read more »
I hope someday to be there. I do pray for this person. I saw the person yesterday sadly they make me physically ill. However, I had my friends and family around and was able to push through. When this person approached me I excused myself and walked away.
Read the book boundaries. You can love someone one but we don’t have tone in toxic relationships that will hurt our walk is this someone who needs Jesus and He is promoting you to share. I was in the same situation years ago with a family member. And I was the one who discovered they were sick. Talk about swallowing your pride. Only God knows your heart and where you stand with this person listen to Him.
So hard to let go of anger my children have chosen the wrong path a scare in and out of jail and prison They had a good life food clothing didn’t want for anything I don’t understand the anger pain is real
Excellent verses.
Super thoughts to employ today & forever!
We should love just as God loves us. He is inside of each one of us.
Just completed this study of Loving everybody Always by Bob. Goeff he demonstrates. This Scripture well. I’ve learned so much an can really see how Jesus. Loves us above all that he. Gave his life for us. We can never repay his love but I can love everybody always an do it with all my heart an soul. I want to let his light shine through. its my. choice to honor him .Oh how I love Him My King Jesus.
We can live in peace with everybody if we just remember to ask the Lord to bless that person as soon as your blood starts to boil and way before you start foaming at the mouth!!! Seriously!!! I used to be a combo of a snapping turtle and a pit bull!!! Hurt me or a loved one verbally and I would immediately go on the attack!!!! The Lord is so quick to help us if we only remember to ask!!!!!
Although a believer, I’m not sure I have turned the corner on this one. Maybe because of how I was raised, or perhaps I learned it along the way. But my human, competitive side creates obstacles for me everytime I’m challenged or questioned. I DO KNOW, that this daily ‘kickstart’ has lead me to question ‘where I really am’ in God’s desire for us to LOVE and not repel, resist, or rebuke others because of my selfish pride to ‘be right, be accepted, or be on top’ of every issue. It’s not about me right ?! I’m a work in… Read more »
I really Love this study of Gods word, when it’s so hard to actually pick up our Bible and read it, this is a great way to get the truth into our hearts!!!! Thank y’all!!!!
I have never felt worthy most of my life. Jesus’ act on the cross has always left me in awe. I have always tried to love my fellow man and help where help was needed. Sometimes it seemed to my detriment. Recently I have been learning that God has always loved me no matter what. Even when I was at my worst he loved me with an unending love. So today I am learning to live loved knowing that my Lord and Savior has my back and will always love me even when others may not. It really is a… Read more »
Michelle I love what your pastors and will put it in action!
Lord help not just to pretend to love others but really love them as true worshipers do.
I love where it states to hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Never pay back evil with evil. Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good. As Christians, the best way to draw others is through love and kindness.
It is difficult to forgive and love others when they hurt us. I was hurt and angry at a family member for years, even after she passed away. But I finally realized that my family member is gone and resolution now is impossible. So I had to let it go and move on. It was a long painful journey but freeing when I released it.
This was told me many years ago. Those who irritate you the most, are the ones you have the most to learn from. I try to remember that at those times when someone is irritating me.
Sometimes it’s hard to hear that you need to love your enemy….but we still need to!
Loving everyone is never easy, but God didn’t promise us easy. He promised us the Holy Spirit to guide and direct us as we struggle to navigate this world while we are here on earth. Living for Christ is what we are called to, which includes loving everyone. We must be intentional about loving others because in that way, we are becoming more like Christ.
Where do you go for after day 10?
Walking through life on a daily basis hearing people complain about politics or how they’ve been offended, or dealing with traffic or a rude person in the grocery store can be trying at times, but I’m reminded that I have my moments too and that God loves each one of us. I take time to say a quick prayer because maybe that’s what that person needs at that moment. It makes me feel good to let God fill my heart with love instead of anger in those moments.
Amen! Beautifully put.