TSP DAILY DEVOTIONAL
LOVE’S RESPONSE CODE
15th February 2020
Dr. Phil Ransom-Bello
KEY SCRIPTURE/MEMORY VERSE:1 Corinthians 13:6-7 (NKJV)
_ does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things._
A believer walks up to another believer to share some news; “Hey, did you hear that Stephanie just got a new car?” Guy A tells Lady B excitedly.
Lady B lets out a long hiss in response- “Oh please. Like we don’t all know how she got the car. Hmm. Nothing is hidden under the sun. The day is coming when the truth will be revealed”
The question is- How did such good news produce this type of response and how can this be found among believers today?
One of the first things Paul heard about the church in Ephesus, was their faith in Christ and the evidence of this faith was their love for all the saints.(Ephesians 1:18)
It’s amazing that there are some believers who are so quick to think evil of others when the true nature of love is that it believes the best of others.
In fact, it would shock you that if God opened the heart of some people, you’d be amazed to see what’s in their heart concerning their brothers or sisters.
How can we share the same faith, attend the same church even, yet don’t wish each other well?
Then we are not submitted to love.
God blesses someone and it’s difficult for you to rejoice? No. You have to check it.
When God lifts someone, celebrate with them.
Truth is, your dislike for someone may just be on the basis of an unfounded assumption that is incorrect and then your problem with them begins and continues to fester.
Love does not think evil or negative of someone or derives happiness when someone falls. (1 Corinthians 13:6)
Instead, it has the capacity to bear all things. The mature believer is one whose love bears.
Some of us select our challenges. We say- “I can take this one but if you try me here, I’ll show you the other side of me.”
But that’s not love.
It doesn’t matter that someone spoke bad about you and you heard about it.
Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong in having a conversation with the person about that but there’s a difference between approaching someone about a resolution and approaching someone for the purpose of conflict because you want to show how well you too can deal with them.
But no, love approaches the offender correctly.
The character of Love will keep on believing the best about someone even when the person hasn’t given a reason to.
Love will always continue to find a reason to trust. If I asked you-how many times have you given up on people you are supposed to keep on believing the best of? You’d probably name several.
Oh but thank God for believing the best of us even while we were sinners!(Romans 5:8)
In Ephesians 1:18, Paul didn’t see the love. He heard of it. In fact, the news of how much they loved each other travelled to where Paul was in another city.
Their trademark was a love that’s not selective.
Your love should be like that. That people talk about your love in distant places.
That’s the way it should be.
Decide to grow to the point where you have deep love for ALL your brothers and sisters in the body.
REFLECTION
How does my love respond at the good fortune or mistakes of others?
DECLARATION
-I am born of God, therefore I’m a love being.
-I have received the capacity to love sincerely and well.
-I rejoice and celebrate with people
-My love response is always conciliatory and not aggravating. I pursue peace with everyone.
-The fragrance of Love is the testimony people have about me.
-The love I give is not selective or discriminatory.
-Bearing with one another and believing the best of others is my new normal.
-Today, testimonies abound for me because the Gospel works.
-Glory!
HEARING BY THE WORD
(Recommended Listening)
Listen to LOVE ~ The Series 2 >> Dr. Phil by The StandPoint Church on #SoundCloud
