top of page
.png)
INFOGRAPHICS
NEW SERIES:
C.S. Lewis on Love
NEW SERIES: C.S.Lewis on Love
On Love (Part 1)
READ: 1 Corinthians 13: 1 - 3; 1 John 3: 14 - 18
Our greatest acts of valour, generosity or spirituality are nothing, if we don't have love for others. In fact, Paul equates them to an annoying disturbance, if we do not do them in love.
Loving people is difficult and risky. How often have we run from people because we are afraid that they will hurt us? Self-preservation is a very human instinct. And yet, God calls us to rise above our humanness, one more time.
John puts it blatantly when he calls us to love not just at the risk of getting hurt, but at the risk of losing our very lives.
Who are the people that the Spirit has already brought to your mind, as you read this?
Will you pray and ask God for the strength and courage to love?
Realize that it's not that there are one or two people that we struggle to love, but our general attitude is such that we would rather hide than be hurt.
Will you submit that attitude to God?
Our greatest acts of valour, generosity or spirituality are nothing, if we don't have love for others. In fact, Paul equates them to an annoying disturbance, if we do not do them in love.
Loving people is difficult and risky. How often have we run from people because we are afraid that they will hurt us? Self-preservation is a very human instinct. And yet, God calls us to rise above our humanness, one more time.
John puts it blatantly when he calls us to love not just at the risk of getting hurt, but at the risk of losing our very lives.
Who are the people that the Spirit has already brought to your mind, as you read this?
Will you pray and ask God for the strength and courage to love?
Realize that it's not that there are one or two people that we struggle to love, but our general attitude is such that we would rather hide than be hurt.
Will you submit that attitude to God?
On Love (Part 2)
READ: Matthew 8: 18 - 22
Jesus had nothing against us loving or caring for our earthly dear ones. Only a few verses before today's reading, there is an account of Jesus healing Peter's mother-in-law. It was more a question of priority - if the situation demanded it, who would you yield to?
What Jesus did demand from us is that we place no human being above Him in our lives.
What would you do if the desires of your dear ones are contrary to what God is calling you to do?
Will you pray that God would renew our hearts and minds, such that we seek Him and His will above all others?
Will you also pray that if such a situation should arise, that He will give you the grace to deal with your dear ones with great love, even if you will not yield to them?
Jesus had nothing against us loving or caring for our earthly dear ones. Only a few verses before today's reading, there is an account of Jesus healing Peter's mother-in-law. It was more a question of priority - if the situation demanded it, who would you yield to?
What Jesus did demand from us is that we place no human being above Him in our lives.
What would you do if the desires of your dear ones are contrary to what God is calling you to do?
Will you pray that God would renew our hearts and minds, such that we seek Him and His will above all others?
Will you also pray that if such a situation should arise, that He will give you the grace to deal with your dear ones with great love, even if you will not yield to them?
On Love (Part 3)
READ: 1 John 4: 7 - 12
When we learn to love God and put Him first in our lives, our love for others is not diminished. It is gloriously enriched.
The more we experience of His love and His grace, the more we will pour out love and grace over those in our lives.
It is the fruit of the Spirit of God that lives in us.
Is this a reality for you?
As you grow in the Lord, have you also grown to love others greatly?
If not, will you allow the Spirit to search your heart and help you understand what stands in the way?
Are you willing to be made more loving?
When we learn to love God and put Him first in our lives, our love for others is not diminished. It is gloriously enriched.
The more we experience of His love and His grace, the more we will pour out love and grace over those in our lives.
It is the fruit of the Spirit of God that lives in us.
Is this a reality for you?
As you grow in the Lord, have you also grown to love others greatly?
If not, will you allow the Spirit to search your heart and help you understand what stands in the way?
Are you willing to be made more loving?
God's eye view (Part 1)
READ: Philippians 2: 1 - 5
How easily do we assume that the problem is with those around us and not us?
Could you point out 3 or 4 of your negative qualities, as easily as you could for those you live, work or fellowship with?
Will you genuinely pray and ask God for the humility to see yourself for who you are. Will you also, with the help of the Spirit, work towards treating others with grace, in the realization that you are just as flawed as them?
How easily do we assume that the problem is with those around us and not us?
Could you point out 3 or 4 of your negative qualities, as easily as you could for those you live, work or fellowship with?
Will you genuinely pray and ask God for the humility to see yourself for who you are. Will you also, with the help of the Spirit, work towards treating others with grace, in the realization that you are just as flawed as them?
God's eye view (Part 2)
READ : 1 John 2: 3 - 11
Whoever claims to be a believer in Jesus must live as Jesus did - John presented this as a scale against which we should measure ourselves. We must be careful to note that this is not given as a scale to judge others by, but it is the way by which "we know that we are in Him."
Can we take time today to introspect - truly ask ourselves if we have loved others the way that Christ loved those around Him?
He was keenly aware of their flaws but He still loved a betraying Peter, a doubting Thomas and a cunning Judas.
Do we love our brothers and sisters in Christ with that kind of love, despite their flaws? To our advantage, (in this matter alone) we are just as flawed as them, unlike Jesus.
If you find that you don't, will you pray and ask that God will help you love those around you? Will you let go of your reservations and reasons for not loving them and ask for His help?
If you did make that prayer, you can be relieved that your claim that you are in Christ is not just a claim.
Whoever claims to be a believer in Jesus must live as Jesus did - John presented this as a scale against which we should measure ourselves. We must be careful to note that this is not given as a scale to judge others by, but it is the way by which "we know that we are in Him."
Can we take time today to introspect - truly ask ourselves if we have loved others the way that Christ loved those around Him?
He was keenly aware of their flaws but He still loved a betraying Peter, a doubting Thomas and a cunning Judas.
Do we love our brothers and sisters in Christ with that kind of love, despite their flaws? To our advantage, (in this matter alone) we are just as flawed as them, unlike Jesus.
If you find that you don't, will you pray and ask that God will help you love those around you? Will you let go of your reservations and reasons for not loving them and ask for His help?
If you did make that prayer, you can be relieved that your claim that you are in Christ is not just a claim.
C.S. Lewis on Love
bottom of page