Daily Devotionals
Tuesday, November 12, 2024 (Aminta)
This weekend, I was power cleaning the house and found my 7-year-old son’s special notebook amidst a giant pile of his toys.
In my rush to get everything put back in its place, I almost missed the sweet messages of his bright pink post-it notes.
However, as I was stuffing it in a drawer, I paused to read his musings and I am SO GLAD I did.
As you can see in the picture I posted, his little heart has been contemplating some big truths:
*Love every person in the world
*Treat everyone right and be loving to everyone
*The Lord has plans for our future
*Friends are important
My eyes filled with tears… maybe because it was really amazing to see that he is actually taking in truth! Or maybe because it seems like our world is so divided and it would be awesome if everyone adopted this mindset. Either way, I couldn’t help but think about this verse:
Matthew 5:43-48
“You have heard the law that says, 'Love your neighbor' and hate your enemy.
But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!
In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.
If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much.
If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that.
But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.”
As we walk forward post-election, and head into the holiday season, my hope is that we can focus on this powerful reminder that LOVE is to be the focus of our lives. Love for our family, love for our friends, love for our neighbors, and love for those who are different than us (even hostile toward us).
So here’s my question: who can you demonstrate love to today? Is it a neighbor who needs help with taking leaves? Or someone in the line ahead of you at the store who could use an encouragement? Or even a coworker who you usually avoid… could you them a coffee?
Let LOVE lead you today!
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for loving me so much! Thank you for having good plans for my life. Thank you for the opportunity I have today to demonstrate your amazing love to the people around me. Please give me eyes to see and ears to hear those who need a special touch from you today and help me to be willing to be your hands and feet. Use me today, I pray.
Amen
We are better together!
Mint
In my rush to get everything put back in its place, I almost missed the sweet messages of his bright pink post-it notes.
However, as I was stuffing it in a drawer, I paused to read his musings and I am SO GLAD I did.
As you can see in the picture I posted, his little heart has been contemplating some big truths:
*Love every person in the world
*Treat everyone right and be loving to everyone
*The Lord has plans for our future
*Friends are important
My eyes filled with tears… maybe because it was really amazing to see that he is actually taking in truth! Or maybe because it seems like our world is so divided and it would be awesome if everyone adopted this mindset. Either way, I couldn’t help but think about this verse:
Matthew 5:43-48
“You have heard the law that says, 'Love your neighbor' and hate your enemy.
But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!
In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.
If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much.
If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that.
But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.”
As we walk forward post-election, and head into the holiday season, my hope is that we can focus on this powerful reminder that LOVE is to be the focus of our lives. Love for our family, love for our friends, love for our neighbors, and love for those who are different than us (even hostile toward us).
So here’s my question: who can you demonstrate love to today? Is it a neighbor who needs help with taking leaves? Or someone in the line ahead of you at the store who could use an encouragement? Or even a coworker who you usually avoid… could you them a coffee?
Let LOVE lead you today!
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for loving me so much! Thank you for having good plans for my life. Thank you for the opportunity I have today to demonstrate your amazing love to the people around me. Please give me eyes to see and ears to hear those who need a special touch from you today and help me to be willing to be your hands and feet. Use me today, I pray.
Amen
We are better together!
Mint
