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Daily Devotional – LOVE LIFE

By February 13, 2017Daily Devotionals

LOVE LIFE

Prayer: Lord may we have a Kingdom impacting “Love life.”

Scripture: One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” 29 “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” 32 “Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. 33 To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 34 When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions. Mark 12:28-34 NIV


In the Old Testament, God’s people showed their love for Him by following the Law. When Jesus came, He taught that the greatest Law, which really summarized all the laws, was LOVE. Instead of memorizing and nit-picking every single rule, Jesus taught us to let love rule our lives.

What tends to motivate you? Time is precious and money is tight, family is a priority, a career is necessary to provide money for your family. Rest is a basic need but somehow usually gets pushed to the bottom of our list. Everyone appreciates a pat on the back, but recognition can be a powerful motivator. What about security; where does that rank on your list?

None of these are necessarily wrong, they just cannot be first. Jesus taught that our lives should be filled with love. If everything we say and do is motivated by love; our love for God first and a godly love for others second, then we will never go wrong. What happens when someone is motivated by pride? Power? Politics? Popularity? What happens to a school or school district when those things are the motivation and not love of the pupil? What causes us to get our priorities mixed up? What makes a “love life” difficult? How do you overcome those difficulties and refocus back on love?

What amazing words and deeds have you experienced as a result of someone’s love? What could you do or say this week to someone who is in need of feeling God’s love?

Prayer lesson: Tell God you love Him, just like you would tell your spouse or family member. Tell Him and then show Him by living a life motivated by love.

Copyright Kathy Branzell. Email kbranzell@ceai