ESOCS Devotional 5 October
TEXT: 1 CORINTHIANS 13: 1-13 KJV
MEMORY VERSE: “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.” Matthew 5:44 KJV
When in Matthew 22:35-36 the Pharisees came to Jesus, tempting Him concerning the greatest of all commandments, the Lord’s answer was simple and direct thus: “Thou shall love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind,” which is the first great commandment. Then the second great commandment being, “Thou shall love thy neighbour as thyself.” This infallible answer was a most divine and intelligible way to summarize the entirety of God’s commandments into one all-encompassing word, LOVE. In Matthew 5:43-48, Jesus admonishes us to love even our enemies and those who hate us, as a means of attaining perfection, “even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”
Read yesterday’s ESOCS Devotional here
In our text today, St. Paul teaches that the way of love surpasses all other spiritual gifts and talents, including wisdom, knowledge, prophecies, tongues, etc. These may fail, but love never fails. The way of love is a sure way to becoming like God. Embrace it to the full.
CHALLENGES
- In Matthew 5:44, Jesus insists that we should love our enemies and pray for their welfare. In all sincerity, do you think this is possible?
PRAYER POINT
- As recorded in 1 Samuel 15:22, obedience is preferred to sacrifice. Since love to enemies is more like a command, Lord I need your grace to comply. Amen.
FURTHER READING: 2 Kings 6:17-20; 7:1-10; 2 Corinthians 7:1-10; 8:1-15
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ESOCS Devotional 5 October
