RHAPSODY OF REALITIES DAILY DEVOTIONAL

WEDNESDAY, 27TH DECEMBER.

THEME: LOVE LIKE JESUS.

OPENING SCRIPTURE: We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death (1 John 3:14).

Walking in love isn’t an option for the Christian, and one major characteristic of love is that it forgives. You must always forgive others, irrespective of what they might have done against you. It doesn’t matter the extent of hatred and acrimony you may experience from certain people, you have the obligation to love and forgive those who hurt or persecute you, like Jesus did.

Imagine His reaction to those who crucified Him; He looked up to heaven and said, “...Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do...” (Luke 23:34). He overlooked their ignorance and forgave their wrongs. Always be quick to forgive. Don’t say, “But what he did was so terrible”; there’s no wrong that doesn’t deserve forgiveness. Jesus proved it.

Stephen did too; read his story: the Jews stirred up false charges against him for preaching the Gospel and ordered his execution. The Bible says, “…as the murderous stones came hurtling at him, Stephen…fell to his knees, shouting, ‘Lord, don’t charge them with this sin!’ and with that, he died” (Acts 7:59-60 TLB). He cried out to God to forgive those who murdered him.

As you take stock and round off the year, one thing you must ensure is to look into your life and confidently say that you hold nothing against anyone. Even the most difficult people, under the most difficult circumstances, still deserve to be loved.

God wants you to know that all people are valuable to Him, irrespective of how you may feel about them. Train yourself to relate with everyone around you in this manner. Never judge or condemn others. Follow the example of the Master. He said in Matthew 5:44-45, “…Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven….”

PRAYER
Dear Father, just as you’ve loved me, I’ve made up my mind to love like you—unconditionally. The compassion of Christ is expressed through me today. My heart is full of love, because the love of God is shed abroad in my heart by the Holy Ghost, to see the beauty and true value of others, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

FURTHER STUDY:
Matthew 5:43-46 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?

1 John 4:7-12 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. 9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son [to be] the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. 12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.

1-Year Bible Reading Plan:
Revelation 19:1-10, Zechariah 7-8
2-Year Bible Reading Plan:
Acts 4:13-22, Ezra 6