Love & Mercy

The Psalms are full of expressing God's merciful love to us. It says God's tender mercies "are from of old." (Psalm 25:6) David called for God's mercy "according to Your lovingkindness, according to Your multitude of tender mercies." (Psalm 51:1 & 69:16).

Let's pray Psalm 119:13: "Look upon me and be merciful to me, as your custom is toward those who love Your name."

God, we need Your tender mercy so we can love. Be merciful to us.

Love & Kindness

II Peter 1:5-7 commends us to add kindness to our love. Verse 8 goes on to tell us if we have these things we won't be useless (barren) or unfruitful in our knowledge of Christ.

How kind is your love? Does your love look like lovingkindness? Kindness takes a gentle spirit. Christ had a gentle spirit. We need one too.

O Lord, let our love be kind.

May our kindness be an expression of Your lovingkindness to us.

One day at a time

Have you asked yourself already today: "How can I love more today than yesterday?" If not, that's a good question. Ask yourself that now. Go ahead, I'll wait. Loving more today than yesterday, should be our goal everyday. One day, we might actually love more than we don't. One day, our thoughts may be purer, our motives more holy. One day, God might have a hold of our hearts, and "not we ourselves." One day, that's what we live for. One day...

Love & Justice

The Lord loves justice. Isaiah 61:8 says that.

God tells us to establish justice (Amos 5:15), to observe justice (Hosea 12:6).

Micah 6:8 is stronger, it asks, "What does the Lord require of you, but to do justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God?"

So, as long as we are loving, love what God loves. God loves justice. God wants to establish justice. He looks for justice. He requires us to act justly. As you love today, love what He loves. Inculcate that into your life and love.

Side Effects of Love

I am looking for side effects of loving today. In searching the Scripture, I find:

1. Others will know I am His disciple (John 13:35)

2. I will be obedient (John 14:23)

3. God will love me (John 14:23)

4. God will abide with me (John 14:23)

5. I will not be cursed (I Corinthians 16:22)

6. I will be doing right (James 2:8)

7. I will be made complete (I John 4:12)

I wonder what the side effects will be on others if I love. Perhaps, they will love. Perhaps, they will feel better. Maybe, their load will be lighter. They might be encouraged. I don't know if it will help them or not. I don't even know if it will help me or not. It might even make my life harder. But, I know one thing. I will have God with me in it (#3 and #4), and what could be better?

I can do nothing, or I can do something

In John 15:5 tells us "apart from Me you can do nothing." This is a sober reminder to free thinking Americans: we can do nothing. But, the key is APART FROM CHRIST. Jesus goes on to remind us in following verses: abide in Me (verse 7) and abide in My love (verse 9 and 10).

Because apart from Him, we can do nothing. I don't want to do nothing. I know Someone who can help me do somthing, IF I am in Him. Oh Lord, let me abide in You and not run ahead in my self desire or will.

You are Loved

Do you fully comprehend that God loves you?

Deuteronomy 23:5 - "...the Lord your God loves you."

John 16:27- "...the Father Himself loves you."

And the classic, John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world He gave His only begotten Son..."

Let those words wash over you today and help you come to a deeper understanding and appreciation of that truth. The more you comprehend that you are loved, you may be inspired enabled to love others. As I John 4:7 says, "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God." Know God. Know His love.

Know God and His love today, and will be made manifest in your life and love today.