Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK … Please take the time to take in a YouTube video with images and lyrics from Wayne Watson singing … Love Found A Way … poignantly singing of how God’s love found a way for us to be freed from self in the Savior so that we could, in turn, show His love to others.
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Highlight Verse[s]: Genesis 1:27 [NLT] … 27 So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God He created them; male and female He created them.
… We were (are) created in God’s image; and so we were [are] created to be in relationship with others and since God is love, we were [are] created to be His love for others.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Genesis 1:26-31 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… God created us to be like Him … and His is LOVE!
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Reference Passage : … John 3:16 [NLT] … I think you know it, don’t you?!
… His love was complete and perfect in His Son; and it now gives us the grace to share that love with others.
Reference Passage : … 1 John 4:7-12 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… We can - and should - love others because God first loved us; and since His love brought us a Savior, we have the capability to be as we were created - to love others.
My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, James Banks, used a story of a street violinist to show us how we should look beyond externals and show God’s love to others. The ODB author wrote: His name was David, but most just called him “the street fiddler.” David was a disheveled, older man who was a regular fixture in popular places in our city, serenading passers-by with unusual skill at his violin [see photo]. In exchange for his music, listeners would sometimes place a dollar in the open instrument case before them on the sidewalk. David would smile and nod his head in thanks as he continued to play.
When David died recently and his obituary appeared in a local paper, it was revealed that he spoke several languages, was the graduate of a prestigious university, and had even run for the state senate years ago. Some expressed surprise at the extent of his accomplishments, having assessed him on the basis of appearance alone.
All too often, I’m afraid, we Christians let outward appearances or external perceptions get in the way of us being what God created us to be [see Scriptures above] … and that is, ... like Him … expressions of love for others.
Dear one, are we thankful enough that God created us in His image and loved us enough to send us His Son to die on a cross that we might be freed to be His expression of love in this world to others?
I don’t know about you, but todays ODB - and the song - and well known Scriptures like John 3:16 and 1st John 4:11 point me to move beyond myself and to share my Lord’s love with others today.
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My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Lord, Jesus, thank You for loving me enough to die for me.
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My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … As You have first loved us, let us show that love to others today. … Amen
Blogger Note: Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled “Our Daily Bread,” distributed online via email by RBC Ministries. If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.
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