Blessings!
Today’s Promise is 1 John 3:14, 15 CJB:
“We, for our part, know that we have passed from death to life because we keep loving the brothers. The person who fails to keep on loving is still under the power of death. Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him.”
Devotion:
What does it mean to love our brothers? To Jesus it meant giving everything He had, even His life, that we might share in His glory. All while we were lost in sin, seeking only our own selfish desires. This is love, putting the needs of others before your own, regardless of the things they do—or don’t do. This is grace, forgiving all wrongs even before the wrong-doer repents. And this is the sign that we have truly risen to new life. If we cannot love our brothers and sisters—all our brothers and sisters—like this, we are nothing more than walking dead.
Real love sees the brethren through the eyes of grace and redemption. Real love sees all people from the position of the Cross. Let us love as brethren–and live!
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, You have shown me that trying to protect myself from others keeps me from the fullness of Your blessings. You have shown me that a guarded heart is a closed heart. Grant me the grace to not only forgive past hurts, but to forget as You do. Help me to trust in You alone to guard my heart, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Have a victorious day in the Lord!
Rebecca
