Daily Devotional for Monday, August 4

The Importance of Love

“And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing,” 1 Corinthians 13:3.

There are many types of love in the world, but nothing transcends agape love. Agape love is the pure, sacrificial love of our Savior, Jesus Christ, and He is the source of this love. Jesus came teaching about love and showing great mercy in all that He did. He desires for His people to follow His example. In Mark 12:28-34, Jesus had an intriguing conversation with a scribe about love. The scribe recognized that pure love for the Lord and for others is greater than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices. Jesus replied, “Thou art not far from the kingdom of God” (Mark 12:34).

This is the same message Paul was conveying to the Corinthian church. A church can be full of good doctrine, great teaching and many good works. But without love, it is meaningless. A church void of love is cold and uninviting. Jesus taught His disciples to love one another as He loved them (John 13:34). “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:35). Love is the key in showing the world that we belong to Christ.

It is easy to get caught up in outward duties to our faith and neglect the weightier matter of love from the heart. Is your service to the Lord motivated by love and gratitude for all He has done? Do you have a true love for His people and care for all the members alike? If you are like me, you may find you fall short. Remember the source of love is Christ. Pray for Him to fill you with His love so that you may love as He does. Nothing is more important.

REFLECTION

“Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another” (1 John 4:11).

Darla Goodrum