THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Ephesians 4:2
Today I watched a young man caught in the pangs of his first love. He could not spend enough time with her or do enough for her. He spent his hard earned money on her, he was up and out a 6:00 AM in freezing temperatures to spend time with her before school. That is true devotion, true love--to give of yourself to another.
It is too bad we cannot seem to give the kind of love to one another that that young man showered on his first car.
Why is it we can often love an inanimate object so much more than a human being? The object does not expect anything; therefore we only need to give what we want to give. On the other hand, people have needs, wants, and expectations. If these things aren't fulfilled, our feelings or the other person's feelings get hurt, and the relationship starts deteriorating. Relationships with real people can be much more threatening and risky than relationships with inanimate possessions!
Nevertheless, we are to love one another as Jesus loved us. He loved us enough to give up his life. Can I love someone enough today to give up some of myself out of love for him or her?
PRAYER: Dear Loving Lord, show me today the person to whom I can show love--and then give me your love for them. Grant me the courage to step out and be vulnerable' in your name. Amen
To the angel of the church in Ephesus write:
These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands: I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them flase. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.Yet I hold this against you; You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
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