Introductory Thoughts
In a day when the world uses the word love rather flippantly, the people of God need to revisit the concept of biblical love. The Bible says, “A friend loveth at all times.” This infers that the concept of falling in and out of love is unscriptural. Biblically defined love is not a fleeting emotion controlled by one’s feelings. It remains a choice based on the truths of scripture and falls outside the whims of one's emotional passions. The world declares its love for something and in the same breath declares its love lost for the latest passing fad. Just as God’s love for us remains permanent, so ought our love for others. Unfortunately, this fickleness has crept into the lives of the believers. We could learn much by considering the example of the Lord’s love for His enemies even after they had so cruelly nailed Him to the tree (Luke 23:34). Biblical love forgives and continues to unconditionally forgive regardless of any objectionable response to one’s love (Proverbs 10:12).
Devotional Thoughts
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(For children): Read Hebrews 13:1. Let brotherly love continue. To continue indicates that we should keep loving whether we feel like it or not and whether the person deserves it or not. The disciples forsook Jesus and fled when they could have remained faithful. The Lord expressed His continued love for them anyway (Mark 16:7; John 13:1b).
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(For everyone): Why did Stephen say, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge? What were the people doing to him when he said this? What can we learn from this?
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How easy is it for you to get upset with others and stop loving them? What kind of friend does that make you? What are you going to do to repent of this sin?
Prayer Thoughts
- Ask the Lord to make you a better friend to others.
- Thank the Lord for His unending love for you.
Song
HOLD FAST TILL I COME
