appnotes
DAY
1
READ I JOHN 4:7-10
DAY
2
READ COLOSSIANS 3:12-14
DAY
3
READ PROVERBS 18:21
Know anyone that’s hard to love? You can probably pick out more
than one from your family tree! Loving the hard cases in our lives
doesn’t come naturally. Getting annoyed and avoiding people comes
naturally. What can you do if you can’t avoid them? What if you’re
married to them?! In today’s reading, John shows us that love isn’t
a feeling you force, it’s a resource you can refill. God is love. Our
capacity to love enlarges as God pours His love into us. We cannot
control the other person, and we shouldn’t try! We are not responsible
for how they react, just how we act. Sometimes we just hit a wall
when it comes to showing love. But we get a boost over that wall
when we reflect on the God who loves us.
Do you have a reputation? What words would people use to describe
you? Are you known to be demanding, rigid, or even vindictive? Or,
does today’s reading describe you? Are you compassionate, kind,
humble, gentle, and patient? Let me guess what you’re thinking, “I’m
not Mother Teresa, for crying out loud!” Yeah, me neither. But get this:
all those good attributes have something in common. They put others
first. Love does that. Love puts the other person’s needs ahead of my
own. Paul calls that the “perfect bond of unity.” Selfishness creates
cracks in our relationships. But love strengthens the bond. Maybe
you would be afraid to ask what words people would use to describe
you. But facing the person in the mirror is the first step to changing
the person in the mirror. Perhaps you could pray, “Lord, shape me
into a person of love.”
Have you ever said something cruel, only to regret it a few minutes
later? We can seek forgiveness, but those cruel words leave a mark
that may take a long time to fade. Words have weight. Maybe you’re
carrying the scars of something said to you long ago. When we are
angry or frustrated, it is always better to bite our tongues. When things
get hot at home, a cool demeanor can keep the temperature down.
Frustration leads to harsh words, which shuts down communication
and makes things worse. On the other hand, well-chosen words
and listening will lead to resolutions. These lessons apply to every
situation of our lives, but most importantly at home. Your words have
the power to shape the future of the people around you. Speak life!
DAY
4
READ MATTHEW 18:21-35
DAY
5
READ REVELATION 2:4-5
Are you better at holding a grudge or forgiving? The ability of a
Christian to forgive others shows that he understands what it is
to be forgiven by God. What kind of credibility would we have if
we insist that others are perfect toward us when we are far from
perfect ourselves? When we came to Christ, God cancelled out
a very long list of grievances against us. In return, He wants us to
forgive our grievances toward others. Why does God care if we
do this? Because people are to see God based on how we treat
them. We cannot look like Him unless we are willing to act like
Him. If you have received forgiveness through God’s grace, you
have also received the responsibility to show His grace to others.
Are you ready for that challenge, or will you choose to hold on to
your grievances?
Is your relationship with your spouse vibrant or on life-support?
Sometimes we get so used to going through the motions that we
don’t even notice the lack of life in our marriages. It can happen
in any relationship. In today’s reading, God speaks clearly to the
problem of a church that had lost the passion. This passage,
about a church who left its first love, also teaches about how to
rekindle love in our relationships. God told them to remember how
their loved used to be at the beginning. Then He calls them to
repent. Lastly, God instructs them to return to what they did at first
to rekindle the love they once had. Your marriage doesn’t have to
be in a rocky place to benefit from this wisdom. Spend some time
remembering, repent of where things have fallen short, and start
doing what you did at first to grow your love again!
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