Pause

Snapshots remind us of times past. They rekindle memories and create opportunities for sharing stories.

Those who have experienced God before us provide snapshots of God’s love for us. This love speaks through their words. It speaks through their actions.

As different as their lives and cultures were from ours, God’s love remains the same. Love speaks to us on our darkest days and in our brightest hours. Love speaks to us through stories and snapshots. Love speaks to us through actions and words.

Listen

Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Think

How would you describe love? Love between a boy and a girl? Love between a husband and a wife? Love of a mother or father for their children? Love for a brother or sister? Love for extended family? Love for friends?

What about love for your neighbors? Or even weirder, how would you describe love for a stranger? Get weirder still; how about love for an enemy? The love of God, which Paul wants desperately for his readers to share with one another, is a great place to begin.

Paul already told us the value of life without love. Here he tells us the value of life with love. When you read this description of love, it is really challenging. It is very selfless. This type of love may not be demonstrated with loud words or be spray-painted on water towers, but when people encounter it, it is life-changing. Whose life will you change today by sharing the love of Christ with them?

Brian Foreman

Pray

Jesus, you love me, this I know, because the Bible tells me so. But also because I have experienced your love in others. Teach me to live so that others know your life-changing love. Amen.

Go

You are God’s.
You are loved and known.
Let love speak to you.
Let love speak through you.

Amen.