THANKFUL

Chatting with Jesus

Wednesday, February 12, 2025

Lord, you’ve given us this Valentine’s week to bring out the best of our romantic side for our significant other. We have several days, so if we fail to make brownie points, we have only ourselves to blame. In my fickle younger years, at least once a week, I found my one true, lifelong love. The delusions of our youthful puppy love hand-ties our emotions to distinguish between love and lust. Thankfully, your Word gives us a clear explanation of what true love is—and what it isn’t.

The apostle Paul describes love as seen through your eyes. He wrote to the Greek church in Corinth whose congregants’ views of “free-for-all” love were anything but Scriptural. Without scolding the wayward believers, he defined love as you meant love to be.

“Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. […] Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 14:4-7, 13 NLT).

Lord, by your definitions of true, godly love, I admit my inability to practice this love. Loving those who love us is easy. Can I love as you love by my own accords? Hardly. All people, believers, and non-believers, have those they love and who love them in return. But this ability, this desire, to extend godly love for all people comes only from you.

In your loving patience, Lord, help me learn to love as you love. Amen, Jesus.

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Chatting with Jesus
Monday, December 2, 2024

Lord, you know me. Most of the time, it’s you and me, Jesus, living fully in your blessings. I’m joyful and pleasant, sharing your love and kindness with everyone. However, at times, the “other” me shows up, the irritable, grouchy me who everyone wants to avoid. As a Christ follower, this wishy-washy version of me should never be allowed out of its cage. No, you haven’t abandoned me when I act contrary to your Word, but my actions and words do make you look bad, and for that shame, I’m deeply sorrowful. I repent and ask your forgiveness.

As Christ followers, we’re commanded to love one another. For most believers, this is a challenge. We don’t know how. Jesus. teach us how to love as you love.

“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you should love one another. Your love for one another will prove to the world you are my disciples” (John 13:34).

Without doubt, if we could consistently see others as you see them, our love attitudes would change. You know their struggles with sinful issues that keep them batted down from being all you created them to be. You know their fears, anxieties. Our judgmental attitude prevents us from seeing their issues.

Help us remember when you went to the cross, you redeemed everyone, even those we find obnoxious and want to smack upside their head. Lord, open our eyes to see they may be praying the same prayer regarding us when we are hard to love.

Help us love one another so others will know we are Christ followers. Amen, Jesus.

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