DEVOTIONAL SCRIPTURE
“Do not love the world [of sin that opposes God and His precepts], nor the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world – the lust and sensual craving of the flesh and the lust and longing of the eyes and the boastful pride of life [pretentious confidence in one’s resources or in the stability of earthly things]-these do not come from the Father, but are from the world. The world is passing away, and with it its lusts [the shameful pursuits and ungodly longings]; but the one who does the will of God and carries out His purposes lives forever. “— 1 John 2:15-16
DEVOTIONAL
Jackie DeShannon, may have said it best in the song lyrics “what the world needs now is love, sweet love it’s the only thing that there’s just too little of”. The lyrics were written by Hal David, and sung by Jackie DeShannon. Hal stated in an interview that it took him months to write the lyrics to the song, because he needed for the words to be reflective of the One that he was speaking about – God so it took him more time to write the lyrics to this song than any other song that he had written. He stated the he knew that the song was completed when he was able to capture the pure nature of God, and what God gives to us.
When was the last time you took out the time to reflect on your action and the pure nature from which it was derived from? What are your intentions for your neighbor, which you see daily? Who are you giving love to without anything in return? See, God has not called us to be in love with the world and the fullest thereof, but to give love without expecting anything from the world, because your reward has already been predestined for you before you were born. And, your reward is awaiting you in heaven, so don’t do good deeds to be acknowledged by man, or with a preconceived notion that you will be receiving something in return. Remember this world is not your God, now will you to enter into prayer with today?
PRAYER CONFESSION
Jesus we know and believe that You are love, and that You were our first love. Teach us how to give love to each other the way that You gave Your love to us the day that You died on the cross for our sins. Help us to give love to people who have nothing within themselves to give back to us, people who are empty inside, defeated in spirit, whose hearts are lonely, and anger because of life’s unwanted challenges. Father we know that the love we give to others will return back to us perfect because we dwelleth in true love with You. Father continue to allow us to walk in Your perfect love, so that on the day of judgement we can stand with a spirit of boldness. We ask these things and all other things in Jesus Name Amen!
Contributed by: Sharessa Bass
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