E-votional - Love
February 14, 2003

Verse:

Love is . . ..”

1 Corinthians 13:4, 8 (NRSV)

Thought:

Patient, kind, forgiving, selfless, these are characteristics of love. Love you see is fuel, fuel for the heart, for the soul and for life itself. Without love we are nothing. Love responds, it does not react, love reaches out, it does not withdraw. And while it is such an important element in our life and in our being, for so many, it is one of the most difficult aspects of life to grab a hold of.

Hear the Good News, there is no greater love "than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends." These words from Jesus preface a statement about the hatred in the world (John 15). In a similar twist, helps to define love as a root of our very being, "Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these" (Mark 12:28-34). The Good News is simple, yet we find excuse after excuse to pry wedges between us and our brothers and sisters. Tear down the walls that keep love away, what ever they may be, and begin to build bridges of love.

Prayer: 

   Gracious Father, it is by Your love You saved me, and save the world. The next time I lose focus of that Love in my life, remind me of God's love for all around me. Remind me we all matter to God. Thank You for all You have done and all You will continue to do, for I ask this through Christ, my Lord and Savior. Amen.