Listen:
“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” (1 Peter 4:8 NIV)
Reflect:
What is love?
Lifesprings has been walking through a book titled, ‘Love, a guide to prayer’ recently, which reminded us that we can see God’s love in three ways:
“As a creative force, a love that has called into being all creation… each one of us! We are called to receive and to return love… As an effective love, it changes us—our way of seeing and of responding… Most of all, God’s love becomes visible, when we feel our fears dissipating and our hearts expanding with love and concern for others.”
Creative. Effective. Visible. God is very practical!
Who do we love?
Even though I cannot reach all of the human population,
God remains clear:
Leviticus 19:18 “Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself.”
Matthew 5:33-34 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love you enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”
Love the person you are in contact with, neighbor, enemy. How do we love?
Deeply. Forgivingly. Covering over a multitude of sins. Because God is love. He has first loved us.
I struggle with this. Would this enable continual suffering in a situation of abuse? I pray for Spirit-led desolation or consolation for anyone needing wisdom. Perhaps this may mean stepping aside for a time, to protect others, to protect a person from more sin. May true love lead us towards less fear, and a more perfect love.
Truly. “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” 1 John 4:18
Prayer of response:
“Father, You are love, and you first loved us. Help us to love creatively, effectively, visibly. Help us to love the person you bring to mind to us today, neighbor, enemy. Help us to walk continuously towards less fear, and a more perfect love, with you walking by our side, ever present. Amen.
—Submitted by Kae Ting Trouilloud
Kae lives in Lyon, France, and is thankful for love present, and love creative, effective, and visible, amidst these strange times. She is dean of the bilingual Lifesprings School of Ministry LSM-Formation Zoé starting November 2021, and is very excited to meet you at the free taster session Saturday, November 14, 2020 online, to hear the stories of women who love creatively, effectively and visibly, as we walk towards less fear and a more perfect love.
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