love never dies – Daily Devo Time

1 Corinthians 13:3-8
If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don’t love, I’ve gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love.

Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have.
Love doesn’t strut,
Doesn’t have a swelled head,
Doesn’t force itself on others,
Isn’t always “me first,”
Doesn’t fly off the handle,
Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn’t revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.

My “quote of the day” calendar entry for this date says, “Lord, when I am wrong, help me to be willing to change. And when I am right…help me to be easy to live with.” This passage of what I call the “love verses” in 1 Corinthians 13 seems to sum up this quote in four words… “I’m bankrupt without love.”

If we operate solely in love, we will never give up. We will care more for others than ourselves and never wish to be like the other guy – or have what he/she has. We will never strut our stuff or puff our chests. We will never demand our own way.

This morning, Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church Pastor of Community Ministries, Abby Maynard, shared a story about a mission camp she attended with a group of teens. Near the end of the camp, a participant came to Abby and complained that she still had not taken them to Sonic® for treats, as promised. The teen was quite demanding and insulting. Abby Maynard said she retreated to her cabin and shed some tears of frustration.

Haven’t we all “been there, done that” – and on both sides of this spectrum? Haven’t we demanded our own way and complained without giving any thought to what the other person was experiencing? And by contrast, haven’t we given until we had nothing left to give, only to have someone tell us, “It’s not enough,” or to demand more from us or be insensitive to what we were experiencing in the moment? Both represent instances where someone operated in “me first mode” – and often, these same people claim to be loving servants of the Most High God.

By the same token, this passage notes that those who truly operate in love do not delight when others grovel. We are not supposed to make others pay – and enjoy it! Rather, we are to offer grace, mercy, forgiveness…and second chances. And yes, I get it…this is often very hard to accomplish! We are human beings, after all – and thereby fickle, fallible, and selfish sinners by nature.

Still, Paul reminds us that those who love God trust Him, never look back, and keep going…even when belittled, denigrated, disparaged, and even greatly abused. Pastor Maynard noted that the teen did come to her the following day to humbly, sincerely apologize. And of course, she accepted the expression of contrition with love and grace, as God wants all of us to do.

I know there are times when it is hard to demonstrate love. There are times when we behave badly “on accident” as our kids would say. We don’t mean to come off arrogant or hateful…but often, our mouth engages without really thinking through what we are about to say. We fly off the handle…or we let selfish desires – or the ideas and opinions of others – control us. And it is often hard to act with love toward those who have “wounded” us in some way.

Today, let’s ask God to help us operate in love – and nothing less. Let’s ask Him to help us see areas where we speak and act with our own interests in mind, regardless of what God wants – or how this affects those around us. Let’s make it our daily prayer to always be guided and guarded by love – and to demonstrate this to others with every word and action. In doing so, may we be easier to live with, as we seek God’s will over our own. Alleluia!

Tag: love never dies

Daily Devotional for August 13, 2023 – Loving others as God commands – how easy to live with are you?

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