Because God Is Love: A Daily Walk in God’s Love

By Pastor Rod Compton

A Year of Love

Each day of this year I am challenging myself, and anyone else who will join, to love like you’ve never been hurt. Love unconditionally. Love completely. Love forgivingly. What if when Jesus said to love your neighbor as yourself, He really meant it? Think about your neighbors, your co-workers, your in-laws and even your outlaws..... Do you love them as yourself?

I would like to start with the two greatest commandments:
Matt. 22:34, “Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

In Reality, Jesus said this: Love God & Love People
Let us hold these two truths in our hearts this year and Love God with all of our heart, soul, and minds and Love others as much as we love ourselves....

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Feb 21, 2022
• ISBN: 9781664258235

Pastor Rod Compton

Pastor Rod Compton has been serving in the ministry for 46 years. He has experienced so many opportunities to see God’s love in action. This daily walk into the realm of God’s love will motivate you to love others as God loves you. He has served in various roles in the Southern Baptist Convention including a board member of the Ethics and Religious Liberties Commission.

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JANUARY 1

Love God (Part 1)

He answered, Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, Love your neighbor as yourself.

—Luke 10:27 (NIV)

How to Love God with All Your Heart

To love God with all your heart means to love God no matter what you are feeling. It is an attitude of commitment and decision. God, I love You no matter what the circumstances of the day may bring. God, I love You if good things happen or if terrible things do. God, I just love You, period!

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6–7 NIV)

When the peace of God guards our hearts and minds, it frees us to love like He loves. It is the peace of God that comforts, corrects, and leads us into a relationship with Him that transforms us into having the mind of Christ and the heart of God. I will trust Him, in every situation, with all of my heart.

This is the way God loves us … no matter what. That is loving with all your heart (commitment). When we love God like this, we are loving Him like He loves us: always, continually, and purposefully. I will never leave you or forsake you.

Dear Father, help me love You with all my heart today. Lord. I want to love you with no conditions attached. In Jesus’s name, amen.

JANUARY 2

Love God (Part 2)

Jesus replied: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.

—Matthew 22:37 (NIV)

What does it mean to love God with all your soul? Only those who have received the wonderful gift of salvation can truly understand this meaning.

In the Garden of Eden, when Adam and Eve sinned, part of them died. That Spirit of God within them died because of their choice of disobedience. As a result, the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord! Hallelujah!

Now, because His Spirit has taken residence in every believer, we can again have fellowship with our heavenly Father. We can commune with Him. We can talk with Him. We can abide in Him.

To love with all of our souls means we desire to be in His presence continually. Do you desire to be in His presence? Do you want to dwell in the House of the Lord?

One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple. For in the day of trouble He will keep me safe in His dwelling; He will hide me in the shelter of His tabernacle and set me high upon a rock. (Psalm 27:4–5 NIV)

Dear Father, help me love you with all my soul! In Jesus’s name, amen.

JANUARY 3

Love God (Part 3)

Jesus replied: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.

—Matthew 22:37 (NIV)

What does it mean to love God with all your mind? God has given us amazing minds. Our brains are supercomputers that can think and imagine things far beyond what other created beings can. How can we take what God has given us and use it for His glory?

How can we direct this powerful part of us in the right direction? How can we keep the viruses of this world off of our operating system?

Key 1: The Mind of Christ

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. (Philippians 2:5–8 NASB)

The mind of Christ comes from being obedient. Thinking about the things of God rather than about the things of this world. We can only be useful in the hands of our Father when we obey Him.

Key 2: The Thoughts of the Holy Spirit

For as a man thinks in his heart, so is he. (Proverbs 23:7 KJV)

Our thoughts need to be His if we want to honor and obey Him. So, how can we do that?

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. (Philippians 4:8 NIV)

Dear Lord, help me love you with all my mind today! In Jesus’s name, amen.

JANUARY 4

Love People (Part 1)

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

—1 John 4:7–8 (NIV)

It is clear throughout God’s Word that the only way we can know true love is to know the One who is true love: God Himself. As we learn to love God more and more, we can start to understand how to love others as we love ourselves. We will begin to see others like God sees them. He sees them as ones who He loves—so much so that He was willing to take on the form of man and die a cruel death with the weight of everyone’s sins upon Himself! That’s how much God loves!

In today’s passage, we are called to love one another with the love that comes from being born of God and knowing God. (We will look at those two characteristics in the days to come). The only way this can happen is by being redeemed and having His Spirit residing in us. Love comes from God because He is love!

So, when you see others, you can begin to see that those who may seem unlovable are, in fact, lovable through the eyes of God. We see imperfections; He sees perfect. We see strangers; He sees friends. In fact, it was spoken so wisely a few years ago at a conference I attended. Many people look at people without Christ as enemies. They are not enemies! Satan is the enemy. They are the prize!

That coworker who seems to despise you; the in-law who seems to look at you with disgust; that bully at school who tries to harm you; they all seem to be enemies, but in fact, they are the prize. Can you love them like God does? Read the passage above again. Yes, you can! Why? Because God is love!

Dear Father, I need Your help to love like You love. Please fill me today with Your love and forgiveness. Thank You, Lord. In Jesus’s name, amen.

JANUARY 5

Love People (Part 2)

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

—1 John 4:7–8 (NIV)

Have you been born of God?

I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty. (2 Corinthians 6:18 NIV)

Jesus replied, Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again. How can someone be born when they are old? Nicodemus asked. Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born! Jesus answered, Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit. How can this be? Nicodemus asked. You are Israel’s teacher, said Jesus, and do you not understand these things? Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. (John 3:3–17 NIV)

Being born of God simply means you have trusted Christ by faith for your salvation. You are now a child of the King. Salvation comes from that act of repentance and faith in the One who gave Himself up for us as our propitiation:

He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. (1 John 2:2 NIV)

This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. (1 John 4:10 NIV)

Dear Lord, thank You that I am born of You and am Your child. Thank you for becoming the sacrifice for my sin debt! Thank You for never leaving me or forsaking me! In Jesus’s name, amen.

JANUARY 6

Love People (Part 3)

Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, says the Lord. Therefore If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

—Romans 12:17–21 (NKJV)

First, I have to always remind myself that people are really not the enemy. Satan is the enemy; people are the prize! Those who do not know God yet are simply acting like they do not know God yet!

Verse 17 says repay no one evil for evil. When you become a child of God, He—as your Father—will watch over you, protect you, and even fight for you. This will happen only when we take our hands off of trying to get even or bringing paybacks to others for what they have done to us. Instead, we are to be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you (Ephesians 4:32 NIV). Just as God forgave you! That means completely!

When we hold a grudge against someone or allow a root of bitterness to begin to grow in our lives, then the only one who wins is the evil one who hates God and hates you. As you forgive others, it also allows you to turn over the punishment to God as well. He says that vengeance is His and His alone. Verses 20–21 command us to treat even those who have hurt you with kindness, compassion, and love.

Just a word about heaping coals of fire on his head. I used to think this meant killing someone with kindness. In fact, this is a reference to a very important custom in that day. If a widow or unmarried woman had no husband to take care of her on cold days, she would put a jar or bucket on her head and walk through the streets. When people saw this, they would offer her coals from their fires to help her get her fire started by pouring coals into her jar. I wonder what would happen if we started loving people by seeing their needs rather than their imperfections, loving rather than judging, and caring rather than cursing? The last part of this passage says by doing so, we will overcome evil with good!

Dear Lord, help me love rather than judge. Help me see needs instead of faults. Help me love people like You love people—unconditionally! In Jesus’s name, amen.

JANUARY 7

Love People (part 4)

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.

—Ephesians 4:1–2 (NIV)

Humility and gentleness are two qualities that are not in high demand in today’s world. It seems those who want to get to the top of the corporate ladder have to put on the mantle of ruthless and callousness. They think the only way to rise to the top is being in total control, displaying dominance, and using hard-hearted practices.

Paul encourages us instead to be completely humble, gentle, and patient. Why? Because putting others before ourselves is the example of our Lord. I am always reminded of the amazing passage in Philippians 2:5–8 (NIV):

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to His own advantage; rather, He made Himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!

The only way we can love someone else the way God loves is to put Him first, others second, and ourselves last. In fact, the path to true joy is Jesus first, others second, and yourself last. I sometimes chuckle when I remember the man who said he was going to write a book entitled Humility—and How I Obtained It.

To bear with one another in love means to work at loving each other, even when it is difficult, even when it hurts, and even though we don’t want to.

We love because He first loved us. (1 John 4:19 NIV)

Dear Lord, help me love others today in humility, gentleness, and patience. Help me love even when I don’t want to. Help me love when it’s hard. Help me love because you loved me even when I didn’t deserve it. In Jesus’s name, amen.

JANUARY 8

The Love of God (Part 1)

The Lord is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion.

—Numbers 14:18a (NIV)

Slow to anger? Oh, boy. That’s not a quality that very many of us tend to have in our repertoire. The word translated from Hebrew literally means long-suffering. The opposite is having a short fuse! What does it take to set you off? Someone’s snarky reply? A look of disdain from a coworker? A shrug of the shoulders and a roll of the eyes from your spouse? Why do we tend to have such short fuses? I believe it’s because we are used to living for ourselves, and anything that causes us to have to give or serve or put ourselves last instead of first really bothers us. When we look at the love of God, it is a perfect picture of true unconditional love. He doesn’t treat us as we deserve. He doesn’t push us away or hold us at arm’s length. Instead, He is so very long-suffering. He is patient. He is kind. He does not repay us for evil. He is love.

Abounding in love means overflowing with love. That love is continual and never stops. We tend to use our love as something we can give and take away. That is not God’s love. His love is everlasting, eternal, and perfect.

What if we started loving each other as God has loved us? I believe we would begin to see people being touched, being reached, and being moved by His amazing love.

Forgiving sin and rebellion? First Corinthians 13:5d (NIV) says that it keeps no records of wrongs. This comes from the Greek term logiaomai, which is a term in bookkeeping that means to count up and desire to settle the account or keep score. Are we keeping score with others—or are we like our heavenly Father, erasing the debts completely! If we want to love others like God loves us, we must—as one writer put it—love as though we’ve never been hurt.

Dear Lord, help me be slow to anger instead of having a quick fuse. Help me be patient and overflowing with Your love. Help me be forgiving and not hold grudges against others who have hurt my family or me. Lord, please give me Your love. In Jesus’s name, amen.

JANUARY 9

The Love of God (Part 2)

Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

—Ephesians 5:1–2 (NIV)

Dearly loved children, an amazing word picture was given to us by the apostle Paul. Agapao is a Greek term that gives us insight into the love that God has for you. He loves you because of His own love nature, and He loves you because you are His. You are His child. You are His child who He dearly loves:

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! (1 John 3:1a NIV)

You are not just a child in a huge family. You are His special one who He is absolutely in love with! Do you see and understand that God wants to pour out (lavish) His love on you every day because He loves you more than you can even think or imagine?

When you begin to see how much God loves you, you can begin to abide in that love and allow it to flow over every part of your being: heart, soul, and mind. His command to love the Lord with all your heart, soul, and mind can start to be realized and put into your daily walk:

When scripture says to walk in the way of love, it is encouraging us to take on the characteristic of God’s amazing love. How? Just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us:

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. (Philippians 3:12 NIV)

Dear Lord, help me walk in the way of love today. Help me love You with everything I have. Help me love others with everything I have. Help me press on today to take hold of this goal that You have for me to follow God’s example, as dearly loved children, and walk in the way of love. In Jesus’s name, amen.

JANUARY 10

God’s Love

This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

—1 John 4:10 (NIV)

God’s love is amazing, and it is incredibly powerful. Love like this doesn’t just stand up and say I love you; it compels the God of the universe to act in love by showing us His love.

Our Father was willing to step out of heaven’s glory and put on the form of man. He was willing to send Himself as Jesus to face a world of sin. He was willing to listen to others lash out at Him. He was willing to hear people call Him a fraud. He was willing to be put down, be spit upon, be beaten, be mocked, have His beard pulled out, be stripped of His clothing, be whipped with the cat of nine, be forced to carry a cross, and then be impaled upon it. He had his arms dislocated so the pain of trying to pull Himself up to breathe on the cross would be excruciating—and pushing up on His pierced feet would be agonizing.

Why would the God of heaven do such a thing? Because His love compelled Him to become sin for us.

God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV)

He became our atoning sacrifice. He became sin for us. He took on all of our sins. He did it for you! He did it for me! Oh, how much He loves us!

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. (John 15:13 NIV)

Dear Father, thank You for telling me that You love me—and for showing me You love me too. Even more than that, thank You for taking all my sin and shame and paying my sin debt when I never could. Thank You for loving me enough to step out of heaven and into my life. Help me comprehend that love and begin to show that kind of love to everyone I know and meet. In Jesus’s name, amen.

JANUARY 11

God’s Love

Let all that you do be done in love.

—1 Corinthians 16:14 (ESV)

So many challenges in God’s Word seem to be unreachable. This is one of them, and it’s because of that one word: all.

I do okay sometimes—but all the time? Is this just a quip put into scripture to make us realize that we are not perfect? No. In fact, the key words here are in love. In the process of all the things you will do today, they need to be completely wrapped in love. When you go to the store, talk on the phone, IM someone—whatever you are doing today—do it in love. Those two words together give us a picture of the relationship God wants to have with us. It is a relationship that has no time outs or just a minutes.

God wants us to abide in Him:

I am the vine; you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. (John 15:5 NKJV)

The word here—abide—is the Greek word meno—and it literally means to stay. Are you willing to stay in Him today? Are you willing to check in and live this day in His presence? That is the only way we can let all that we do be done in love!

Dear Lord, I want to abide in Your presence all day today. Help me want You more than anything else that this world tries to offer me. I want to stay! Please help me, remind me, and pull me toward You today. In Jesus’s name, amen.

JANUARY 12

The Father’s Love

There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, Father, give me my share of the estate. So he divided his property between them. Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. When he came to his senses, he said, How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants. So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. The son said to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. But the father said to his servants, Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found. So they began to celebrate.

—Luke 15:11–24 NIV

I have to admit that this parable, told by Jesus to His disciples, is my very favorite in all of God’s Word. Every time I read it, I begin to weep. There is no clearer passage that shows the love that the Father has for us. Jesus was the Master of parables because He is the Master. This shows us the total, absolute, unconditional love that God has for His children.

This is the same love He has for you! We are all like that son. We’ve chosen to walk our own paths because of the sinfulness and selfishness in our lives. We want what we want when we want it. There is no thought for others. There wasn’t even a please uttered from his lips—just a demand—yet the Father acted, in every way, full of love. He never gave up on him. He looked for him every day! He ran to him. He kissed him. He held him. He proclaimed his son was dead but is alive again! And that is what we are: dearly loved.

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! (1 John 3:1a NIV)

Dear Lord, thank You for never giving up on me. Thank you for always looking for me, loving me, and lavishing your love on me. Help me do the same to others. In Jesus’s name, amen.

JANUARY 13

The Love of God

The Lord your God is with you,

The Mighty Warrior who saves.

He will take great delight in you;

in His love He will no longer rebuke you,

but will rejoice over you with singing.

—Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV)

Have you ever pictured things in your mind? Have you ever tried to visualize what God is really like? Scripture is clear that God is clearly depicted by His Hebrew names. He is Jehovah Jireh—the God who provides. He is Jehovah Shalom—the God who is our peace—and so on. The apostle John tells us that God is best depicted as love. God acts in love, speaks in love, and is love (1 John 4:8).

The prophet Zephaniah also draws us a beautiful picture as well. He begins by reminding us that God is with you. You have the God of all creation right here with you. Why? Because He loves you! He will always love you! He delights in you! He even sings over you! I can still remember, as a little boy, how calming it was when my mom would sing me to sleep. I still remember every word of her lullaby. Her love for me was demonstrated through her song. How much more so when the Mighty Warrior who saves delights in singing over you. He has promised to always be there for you. So, what comfort should that bring you? He loves you!

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. (Deuteronomy 31:6 NIV)

Dear Father, thank You for Your amazing love! Thank You for Your songs over me. Thank You for never leaving me or forsaking me. Thank You! In Jesus’s name, amen.

JANUARY 14

Christ’s Love

For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again.

—2 Corinthians 5:14–15 NIV

This passage has always stuck in my mind. I’m trying desperately to get it from my mind into my heart. Paul said Christ’s love compels us. The Greek term used here is the word anagkazo. It means to urge, force, conscript, or necessitate. Our country uses this term conscription as a means to draft young men into service during times of war.

Paul states here that Christ’s indescribable love conscripts us into His service instead of into our own. For the greater good. Not my will, but thine. He describes this by saying we should no longer live for ourselves. How is this possible? Can a person truly live for Him instead of for themselves? And if so, what could motivate us to do so? It is realizing the greatness, the magnitude of Christ’s love.

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. (Galatians 2:20 NIV)

Paul says in simple terms, This is not my life anymore; it is His. The reason? His great love conscripted me. It is my honor to serve Him. My father didn’t like to talk about World War II, counting it such a privilege to serve his country. So many gave so much and continue to do so for the country that they love. How much more should we, as those who have accepted the love of Christ, count it a great joy to serve the Master!

John Wilbur Chapman’s Glorious Day puts this correctly:

Living, He loved me

Dying, He saved me

Buried, He carried my sins far away

Rising, He justified freely forever

One day He’s coming

Oh glorious day, oh glorious day

Dear Lord, thank You for living for me. Thank You for dying for me. You loved me—and you saved me. Now Lord, help me live for you today, and every day that You give to me. In Jesus’s name, amen.

JANUARY 15

Love God, Love People

Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.

—Proverbs 3:3–4 NIV

Of course, Proverbs is so full of practical wisdom for us all, but have you thought about the phrase write them on the tablet of your heart? What exactly does that mean? I like this quote I read not too long ago: The heart is like a sponge and soaks up whatever is around it. Whatever we soak our hearts in becomes our treasure. If the water is dirty, then the treasure is dirty. If the water is pure, then the treasure of the heart will be pure.¹

I believe the essence of what the Bible teaches us all is to focus on loving continuously. All day, every day, all day long. We can be so scattered with so many things fighting for our attention. The only way to calm our hearts and our minds is to do as God commands us in Psalm 46:10 (NIV):

Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.

As a young boy who probably had ADD before they knew what that was, be still was not ever a part of me. Getting my attention was not really possible except for the method my Mom used. When she needed me to hear her, she would put her hands on each side of my face, have me look into her face, and say, Listen! When she had my attention, then she could relay any information needed.

God is lovingly holding our faces and saying, Be still … listen. This is a be still moment in scripture. Let love and faithfulness never leave you. Keep love in the forefront of your mind today and every day. Look at others through His eyes. See them as He sees them. He loves them so—and so should we.

Dear Lord, help me love You and others all day, every day, with the love that You have so generously poured out upon me. In Jesus’s name, amen.

JANUARY 16

The Command to Love

My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.

—John 15:12 NIV

I’ve often found it interesting that Jesus would have to tell His disciples that He was commanding them to love each other. Wouldn’t they already know that they were to love each other? We see glimpses of the fact that they had not quite yet understood this or put it into practice when they argued over who would get to sit at Jesus’s right hand when He set up His kingdom on earth. Sounds much like us, doesn’t it? Jesus had been telling them that He was going to die, rise again, and ascend back to the Father. But now He commands them to love one another.

He had already given them the reason why they should:

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. (John 13:34–35 NIV)

The reason was so that everyone would know. I wonder if others know we are His. Do they see His love through us—or do they see us as we are? Meditate on that for just a moment.

What would this world look like if we truly took this commandment to heart? I dare say we would see many more people coming to know the love of Christ because it is being personified through His children.

Dear Lord, please help me love so that others know it comes from You. Help me love so long and hard that all people will know that I am Yours. In Jesus’s name, amen.

JANUARY 17

The Command to Love (Part 2)

My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.

—John 15:12 (NIV)

We’ve looked at the command of this verse, but now let’s look at the how of this command. We are to love—just as Christ has loved us!

When you take into consideration the magnitude of this command, it almost seems overwhelming. I mean, how is loving the way Christ loves us even possible? And what is the extent of that love?

Consider the scope of His great love. He loves you with no end. We tend to put parameters around our love. We feel like we can give or take it whenever we choose—to whomever we like. If we are to love just like He loved us, we cannot limit the scope or extent of the love. We must simply love, period.

I find it interesting that we seem to use love as a tool to get what we want. That is not love. That is selfish manipulation, and we’ve become very good at using it. If we don’t get what we want, we can close somebody off, treat them differently, or even walk away. Again, that is not love. Instead, loving as Jesus loves, simply means loving with no limits!

I wonder what we would look like if we started to love just as Jesus has loved us. Maybe people might really start seeing Him in us. After all, He told His disciples, If I be lifted up, I will draw all people unto Me (John 12:32 ESV). How do we lift Him up? By loving the way that He loved!

Oh, Father in heaven, please help me love others just as You loved me. You didn’t ask me to clean myself up or to jump through certain hoops so that I could have Your love. You just loved me—period—with no strings attached. Thank You, thank You, thank You! Lord, fill me with that kind of love so that I can lift up Jesus today. In His name, amen.

JANUARY 18

A Place to Stay

As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you. Now remain in My love.

—John 15:9 (NIV)

This verse is just prior to the one we looked at over the past couple of days. We were commanded to love each other as He has loved us. Now, we can know the means for that to happen. It comes from the place of love: in Him.

Jesus says, Remain in my love. Again, the Greek term meno reminds us to stay and not leave; to abide; to live in the love of God. The love of God is so sweet; why would we ever want to leave? Because of our sinful heart, we choose the world and the love of this world, we get up and leave.

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. (1 Timothy 6:10 NIV)

We are drawn by the things of this world that seem to say they are more important, but they are not. They are empty in their promises of love and fulfillment. The only thing that can fill and soothe our restless souls is the love of God.

So, how can I accomplish this today? I’m so pulled and distracted by what this world has told me is so important. I must remain in His love. I must choose to stay today, in Him, all day long.

Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for this gift of love that You give and give and give. Thank You for inviting me into Your presence and experiencing Your great forgiveness and unconditional love. Lord, I want to stay in Your love. And when I’m tempted to get up and walk away, draw me closer to You. Lord, I choose to remain in Your love today. In Jesus’s name, amen.

JANUARY 19

God So Loved …

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever would believe on Him, would not perish, but have everlasting life.

—John 3:16 (NKJV)

I think most of us have probably memorized this verse and have known it since childhood. I remember the man with the rainbow hair holding up the reference to John 3:16 on a large poster in the end zone of so many pro football games.

There is probably no more famous verse in all of God’s Word. What makes it so? Well, not only is this God’s plan of salvation for anyone. Not only is it the statement of God’s willingness to do what it takes to reconcile us to Himself. I think the most amazing thing about this verse is the two words—so loved. What does that really mean? I think one thing that comes to mind for me is that God’s love compels Him to act because of His love. His love is not just a feeling. By the way, love is not a feeling; it is a commitment! God’s commitment to me and to you and to anyone in this world, is that we are so loved that He gave …

He didn’t just give us a way to salvation. He gave us the One who is salvation. You might recall what Jesus told His disciples in John 14:6b (NIV): I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

That’s how much God so loved you and me! He gave. He saves. He’s committed. Will you receive that love?

Dear Father, thank You that You so loved that You gave. Help me meditate on that thought all day today, tomorrow, and eternity. In Jesus’s name, amen.

JANUARY 20

An Act of Love

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

—1 Peter 4:8 (NIV)

First of all, Peter states that above everything else. That is a very lofty command. Above our jobs, above our status, above our bank accounts, above everything that this world screams is so important—above it all—we are to love each other intensely, passionately, completely, and deeply. I love how Nesbit’s Commentary puts it—that love for each other, perfect, honest, intense (that is the word that brings out the true meaning of the original), which is the outcome of true and perfect love for God. It is love for every fellow creature upon whom we see stamped the image of the one Father—be he stranger or kinsman, friend or foe—love such as God has for us. But if that is not vivid enough, Peter tells us why we are to love each other deeply because love covers over a multitude of sins. It keeps us from looking at the sin so that I can show love to the sinner. Because of His great love for us, Christ took on all of our sins so that we could be made whole and clean. His love looked past my transgressions and saw me as redeemed.

We must quit looking for the bad in people, which we so easily do, and we must see the potential good in everyone. Abraham Lincoln said, When you look for the bad in men, expecting to find it, you surely will. I believe these words to be true. When you search for the negative things in people—and in life—you will find them.

Instead, Peter tells us to look at others through the eyes of our Savior, just as Paul says in Ephesians 5:2 (NIV):

Walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Read these thought-provoking lyrics by Wayne Watson from his song Rose-Colored Glasses:

His gaze always passes through rose-colored glasses,

Every time He looks on my heart,

And through love’s forgiveness, through purity’s fire,

I am my God’s desire.

Dear Lord, thank You for seeing me through the blood of Jesus. Thank You for seeing me clean and whole and pure. Your love has covered over a multitude of sins. Now, Lord, please help me love others the way that You have loved me. In Jesus’s name, amen.

JANUARY 21

Ten Pictures of Love: 1

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

—1 Corinthians 13:4–6 (NIV)

Paul begins this amazing section on love by stating that real love is patient. The Greek word here for patient is makrothumeo. Makros means long, and thumos means temper, passion, or anger. Together they mean long-tempered or taking a long time to become angry. This kind of love waits for an opening to do its good work.

God models this for us. He is so very patient. Read through the following scriptures and meditate on the loving patience of God:

The Lord is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion. (Numbers 14:18a NIV)

The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. Instead He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9 NIV)

They refused to listen and failed to remember the miracles you performed among them. They became stiff-necked and in their rebellion appointed a leader in order to return to their slavery. But you are