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Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Today's Frontline Devotion January 24, 2007 LOVE IS |
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Frontline Devotion for Wednesday, January 24, 2007 by Penny Risen
1 Corinthians 13: 4-7
“Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude.
It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of
being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the
truth wins out.
Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through
every circumstance.” New Living Translation Bible
As God’s chosen, we’re to live in unity and love. God
first loved us, says the apostle Paul, and we need to pass it on. It may not
always be convenient or the right time for us. Some folks are tougher to love
than others, but the effort will be worth it. We need to believe that love is
more powerful than we ever anticipated --- and we also need to trust to allow
others to love us.
This passage from 1 Corinthians often is read at
weddings. Guests and family nod in agreement at its seeming simplicity. But the
best occasion on which I heard it was during a ceremony involving a
“blended” family --- two families being combined in the second marriage for
both partners.
When the lector stood to read these hopeful verses about
patience and faithfulness, the kids of the man and woman who were about to be
joined stood up too.
This quiet acknowledgement of mutual love must have been discussed at length among this tribe --- perhaps loudly and with a bit of door-slamming before the decision was made to make this physical statement during the church ceremony. Since I knew the situation well, I realized that the union that day brought with it much baggage of different religions, different lifestyles, different politics, death, divorce and not a little trepidation about how it was all going to play out.
Love was to bind them, my friends and their children
promised that day, and love did work wonders. Love and trust got them through
many bumps and curves in the road. On New Year’s Day, I visited this clan now
16 years after the wedding when 1 Corinthians was read.
As the oldest daughter introduced her new fiancé to the gathering, I couldn’t help but wonder if this simple and wonderful verse would be read at their upcoming wedding. We’ll surely all nod to each other in agreement at God’s design for that love is. We can see it in action everyday. And not only between matched and loving partners, but also as children coexisting in our very challenging, blended family of God.
Prayer for the day: Dear Lord, thank you for giving me a loving family, both in the folks who are my kin and those whom I encounter as “brothers and sisters” each day. Help me to follow Your commandment to love and to put into practice what love is. Amen.
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All are welcome to join and share in our Devotional Ministry on the "Frontlines" of the world. Frontline Devotions are sent via email daily. Sign up by clicking on the box to the left. Pastor Dave welcomes feedback. Contact him at pastordave@goodshepherdonline.org. |
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