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in Love

Pursue Love at all Costs

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SCRIPTURE

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. (1 Corinthians 13:1-3)

 

OBSERVATION

Paul use these exaggerated comparisons to really highlight the significance that doing spectacular things without LOVE as the origin of your motivation it will have NO impact/NO gains at all. To have faith to move a mountain, but not to have love is like a useless noise that accomplishes nothing. Jesus mentions in John 13:34-35, "...Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

If you operate from a place of love, its a selfless position that brings glory to the Lord thus having a great kingdom impact positioning yourself as a beckon of light.

 

APPLICATION

My application is to love at all cost to bring glory to the Lord! When I'm operating from a place of love, the display of 

 my God given gifts will be pleasing to the Lord. Now my actions with Love will be meaningful, to encourage and equip His people. 

"But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ." (Philippians 3:7)

 

PRAYER

Lord, I pray that I can love as you intended with patience, kindness, selflessness and one that thrives in your truth. I pray against any self seeking motivation that may promote envy, boasting or pride. I want love to start and end with you - more of you and less of me. Amen! 

Posted by Damon Perez with
in Love

To Love Is To Serve

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SCRIPTURE

And if you will indeed obey my commandments that I command you today, to love the LORD your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul - Deuteronomy 11:13

 

OBSERVATION

One cannot love without serving. The inseparable union between love and service is a marriage that cannot be divorced in our relationships. God’s primary instruction of love, obedience and service to Israel as they were about to cross into the Promised Land stands true today. Just as we are to love the LORD our God with all our heart and all our soul, we are also to serve him with all our hearts and all our souls. 

 

APPLICATION

I cannot love God without serving him. I confess I have been lackadaisical in my effort to love and serve him. I have slacked off in my exercise. How can I love the Lord with all my heart and soul if I am lethargic and lack the energy to do so? I need to ratchet back to the basics of doing daily exercise, devotions, worship and prayer. Love God and serve him in my primary ministry of loving and serving Renee—do so with all my heart and soul. Put my heart into making sure that I communicate to her in her love language of words of affirmation and affection. Serve my family with all my might. Don’t feel entitled to be served but to serve my kids. Jump on the trampoline with them even though it’s the last thing I want to do. Watch them play video games simply because they take pleasure in their dad watching them do something they enjoy. Go back to the discipline of following up every Tuesday, studying at least 15 hours a week for a sermon, and showing hospitality by having people over for dinner.

 

PRAYER

Heavenly Father,

Please forgive me for my laziness and half-hearted posture of my worship and love to you. I repent and turn away from entitlement and laziness. Thank you for the grace of your correction and discipline. Holy Spirit please give me the strength, resolve and desire to serve you with all my soul and strength. 

Posted by John Danganan with

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