Monday, February 27
Above all else, put on love.
By: Pastor Amie Donovan
Above all else, put on love.
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.”-1 Cor 13:4-5 (NIV)
If you’ve been to Hobby Lobby you have seen this passage printed on canvas, mugs, and adorable journals with matching pens. It’s one we hang on the walls of our living rooms to remind us of Christ’s expectation of all believers. That above all else, we put on love.
If we’re honest, however, it’s a lot easier to hang those words up than it is to live them out.
In our home, when we struggle to navigate hard relationships, we have each other recite this passage but with Jesus’s name anywhere love is referenced. “Jesus is patient, Jesus is kind. He does not envy; He does not boast,” etc.
We ask how easy that was to say, and always we reply, “Very.” We ask each other why and always we reply, “Because it’s true to His character.”
Next, we repeat the verse again, but this time with our own name. “Cammie is not proud. Aubrie does not dishonor others. Tom is not self-seeking. Amie is not easily angered.”
Then we ask the same questions.
How easy was that to say? Does it line up with our character?
Conflict is inevitable. Misunderstanding is a part of life. Differences are given. When feelings get hurt and forgiveness is necessary, how do we respond?
Mark Twain said, “Forgiveness is the fragrance a violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it.”
When you feel like your ideas were stepped on, your feelings crushed, and your value trampled, allow forgiveness to be the fragrance of your life. Choose to have the Character of Christ, who doesn’t give what we deserve but gives what we could never earn.
Above all else, put on love.
By: Pastor Amie Donovan
Above all else, put on love.
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.”-1 Cor 13:4-5 (NIV)
If you’ve been to Hobby Lobby you have seen this passage printed on canvas, mugs, and adorable journals with matching pens. It’s one we hang on the walls of our living rooms to remind us of Christ’s expectation of all believers. That above all else, we put on love.
If we’re honest, however, it’s a lot easier to hang those words up than it is to live them out.
In our home, when we struggle to navigate hard relationships, we have each other recite this passage but with Jesus’s name anywhere love is referenced. “Jesus is patient, Jesus is kind. He does not envy; He does not boast,” etc.
We ask how easy that was to say, and always we reply, “Very.” We ask each other why and always we reply, “Because it’s true to His character.”
Next, we repeat the verse again, but this time with our own name. “Cammie is not proud. Aubrie does not dishonor others. Tom is not self-seeking. Amie is not easily angered.”
Then we ask the same questions.
How easy was that to say? Does it line up with our character?
Conflict is inevitable. Misunderstanding is a part of life. Differences are given. When feelings get hurt and forgiveness is necessary, how do we respond?
Mark Twain said, “Forgiveness is the fragrance a violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it.”
When you feel like your ideas were stepped on, your feelings crushed, and your value trampled, allow forgiveness to be the fragrance of your life. Choose to have the Character of Christ, who doesn’t give what we deserve but gives what we could never earn.
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