Jun 04 2025

Today's Bible Verse

And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

Today's Bible study

In today's verse, the Apostle Paul talks about the importance of love. We should focus on loving one another, which binds people together in unity (perfectness), above all else. Love is the most important part of the Christian life, and in this morning's Bible study, we'll think about what love looks like.

We most admire love when it comes at great cost. While it's fun celebrating newlyweds at weddings, we especially admire couples who have gone through hardship and remained together, whose love has been tested and proved true. Love is more than a good feeling—it's a decision to care graciously for another person, even when it requires personal sacrifice.

We see this through Jesus. If we want evidence of His love for us, we can look at the cross. Jesus endured the most painful execution method ever invented, and, much worse, separation from God the Father—and He did it so we could have a relationship with Him. His love went deeper and was stronger than pain or fear.

This kind of love binds people together with a common purpose. Minor divisions or differences in opinion become less important when everyone is knitted together with the common purpose to love the Lord and each other. When we are focused on loving one another, forgiveness comes easier and offenses become rarer. We are no longer hankering for approval or for recognition because our deepest needs have been abundantly satisfied.

Today, think about how you can show love to other people. Who is someone in your life who could benefit from a kind phone call or text? Who could you take out to breakfast or dinner, or say a prayer with? Remember that when you do these things for others, it is like you are doing them for the Lord Himself.

Today's Prayer

Dear Lord, please help me to love other people. I want to be an instrument of your grace and kindness, and I know that begins with showing love. Help me remember how you have loved me, and give me strength to be like Jesus to those around me. In Jesus' name, amen.

Jun 03 2025

Yesterday's Bible Verse

Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.:

Yesterday's Bible study

In this verse from Colossians, Paul speaks about the importance of forgiving each other. Regardless of the offense against us, we are expected to forgive those who hurt us… just as Christ forgave us. Today, we'll think about why forgiveness is so important and how we can use it as an opportunity to reflect on the kindness that the Lord has shown us.

I'll be honest—I struggle with forgiveness. Sometimes a memory of how someone hurt me five years ago jumps into my mind out of nowhere, and it's like someone spilled hot grease all over me. It takes me a minute, and then I try to give it to the Lord, again and again. He meets me where I am, reminding me that I do not have to understand why someone hurt me, but instead, to forgive them and rest in His love for me.

While forgiveness involves our relationships with other people, it is ultimately between us and the Lord. Paul reminds us in this Colossians verse that Christ has forgiven us, so we should forgive others. We do not forgive others because they deserve it, but because we have also been forgiven. This is why withholding forgiveness is a sin against the Lord. It's ignoring the unfathomable kindness that He has already shown us through Jesus.

When forgiving is difficult, remember that the Lord doesn't expect you to be able to do it relying on your own strength. He invites us to involve Him in every aspect of our lives, especially when we're struggling with forgiveness. We can ask the Lord to help us. We can tell Him all the reasons why we're finding forgiveness to be so hard, and ask Him to heal us of the wounds we've endured. He cares about our pain, and He loves justice. He will tend to our hearts so that we can forgive, reminding us of the great forgiveness that He has already shown us.

Yesterday's Prayer

Dear Lord, thank you so much for forgiveness. You are so good, and there is no way that I can ever repay you for your grace. Help me to forgive those who have hurt me. I may not understand why they did what they did, but I don't have to. I rest instead in the reality that you love me and care about me. Thank you for your faithfulness. In Jesus' name, amen.

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