Jun 26 2025

Today's Bible Verse

Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

Today's Bible study

In this verse from 1 John, we are reminded that the Lord is a God of love. All love comes from Him, and we, the recipients of His love, are called to share it with other people. By loving others, we show that we know the Lord. Today, we will talk about how to love each other and why it is such an important part of the Christian's life.

Think about a time in your life when you felt especially loved by someone else. What did the person say or do for you? I can think of kind words delivered at just the right moment, gifts that showed me that the person cared for me and loved me, and being truly listened to when I needed a friend. Although everyone may define love in different ways, ultimately love is seeing other people as beloved children of the Lord.

When we begin to see other people as God's creation, we will recognize that how we treat them affects the Lord greatly. He sees and cares for all of those around us, and suffers when His children are mistreated. We would be wise to consciously show love to others, remembering Whose children they are.

When we love other people, we are also recognizing how much we are loved. Think of the nicest thing you have ever done for someone whom you love deeply. What you did, and how it made you feel, are nothing compared to the love that the Lord has for you. His love for us is beyond comprehension.

We can continue to grow in our own understanding of His love by spending time in the Word, praying, and worship—indeed, the more time we spend with Him, the more we will love Him. This is because we will realize how much He already loves us.

Today's Prayer

Dear Lord, thank you so much for being a God of love. Thank you for loving me when I was not lovable; thank you for showering me with grace when I could never deserve it. Please help me to show your love to other people. In Jesus' name, amen.

Jun 25 2025

Yesterday's Bible Verse

Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.:

Yesterday's Bible study

Jesus is talking to His disciples in this verse, saying that if someone sins against them, there should be no limit to the amount of forgiveness they offer; that no one can sin too severely to be redeemed. This is a reminder for us today—the need to be willing to forgive, time after time after time. Today, we'll consider why this is so important and how we can follow it in our everyday lives.

What is forgiveness? Contrary to what is often believed, forgiveness is not saying that something is okay… because if something was okay, there would be no need for forgiveness. Instead, it's acknowledging that an offense was made, and then pardoning it. It means that no ill will or retribution will be sought. You do not have to be best friends with a person who wronged you, but you are called to offer that person forgiveness.

When we forgive other people, we are modeling the forgiveness that the Lord has shown us. We can never meditate too much on the mercies of the Lord; it would serve us well to remember with gratitude the many times that we have come before the Lord and been washed clean by the blood of Jesus. Often, we don't understand the depth of forgiveness until we have been deeply hurt by another person. The worst hurt you have experienced in your life is nothing compared to sinning against a holy God. The grace that we show other people pales in comparison to the grace that we have received from the Lord. When we truly understand this, we will be able, as Jesus says in today's verse, to forgive people over and over again.

There is great freedom in forgiveness. When we harbor anger or hatred against another person, we are allowing those feelings to control us. Forgiveness is a relief for the other person—but surrendering our negative emotions about something is freeing us in the process. It helps us focus on the Lord above all else, reminding us that He is the sole arbiter of justice, and remembering the grace that we have received.

Yesterday's Prayer

Dear Lord, thank you for forgiving me time after time. Thank you for never turning away a contrite heart. Help me to forgive other people quickly, always remembering the love that you have shown me. In Jesus' name, amen.

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