FRAGRANCE OF CHRIST

It was my wife’s birthday, and a friend surprised her with a beautiful bouquet of roses. As I sat across from her, I could smell their beautiful fragrance. “What a picture of a true Christian,” I thought. The Bible tells us “Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God.” A Christian, like the flowers, should be overflowing with a fragrance of Christ. But what happens when another person’s words or actions hurt us? It is very easy to respond harshly when we or a loved one is hurt. We can say things we regret and be even more destructive than we realize at the moment.

Christ loved us even while we were still lost in sin. Because we have received that undeserved love, we can extend it to those who wound us. His love in us becomes a healing fragrance that brings peace instead of pain, restoration instead of division, and hope instead of despair. Choose patience over anger. Offer kindness instead of retaliation. When we live this way, our lives become a testimony that points others to the One whose love never fails. No matter what wounds you carry or what fresh hurts may come, let Christ’s love flow through you. In a world full of bitterness, be the sweet aroma that draws people to Jesus.

Prayer: Father, I pray that You will help me to always be like Christ when I am hurting. Help me to forgive and love everyone as Christ has loved me. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Keep 'Em Down!

A group of tourists was strolling along the ocean front when they saw a group of young boys catching crabs.

They became curious when they saw that the basket they placed the captured crabs in had no top. As a crab was being placed into the basket one of the men said, “You’d better cover the basket or all of the crabs will climb out!”

“Oh no, sir,” said one of the boys. “That’ll never happen. If one of them tries to climb out the others will pull him down.”

How like many who attend church each Sunday and call themselves “disciples.” Whenever they hear of someone being promoted or another, who receives an unusual gift or special recognition or a reward for their performance at work, they are unable to rejoice with the one whom God has blessed. They look for reasons to pull that one down.

How sad that gossip, jealousy and envy rules so many lives!

Paul wrote that “Love is not jealous!” In other words, if I truly love others as God wants me to love them, I do not become jealous when God blesses them. Instead, I rejoice at His goodness to them. Whatever we have or what others have comes from God. They are His blessings.

The love that Paul writes about is not a natural love. It is a God-love that comes from Christ dwelling in us. Only as we surrender our lives to Him will we live His love and so that others will see Him in the way we live.

Prayer: Help us, Lord, to rejoice when You bless others and give sincere thanks when You honor us. Fill our hearts with so much love that we will rejoice and be glad. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

The Best Medicine Is Love

A country doctor said, “I’ve been practicing medicine for over 30 years. During all those years I have prescribed many different things. But in the long run, I’ve learned that for most of what ails the human condition, the best medicine is love!”

“But,” asked a student, “what if it does not work?”

“Double the dose,” came the quick reply.

Many have said that love is the greatest medicine in the world. It can do more to heal the sick than most medicines. But what is this “healing love?” It is holding someone’s hand when they are lonely. It is shedding a tear with someone who is brokenhearted. It is sitting quietly beside someone who is grieving. It is having a cup of coffee with someone who has been abandoned by a loved one. It is praying with someone who is overwhelmed with discouragement.

Love is not an emotion that is based on a passing feeling. It comes from a compassionate heart that has experienced the conversion that God has provided for us through His Son. Love is something that is born of God and given by God.

Love is a gift. Take it and let it grow.

Love is a sign. Wear it and let it show.

Love is an act. Do it and let it go.

Prayer:Fill our hearts, Father, with Your love. May we overcome selfishness by living lives of service as Your Son, our Savior did. In His name, Amen.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:4-7  Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 

Just Like Being At Home

Little Jimmy came home from school in a state of anger. “I’m tired of the cafeteria and I’m never going back. I’m never going to eat there again!”

Puzzled, his mother asked, “Why? What’s the problem?”

“Because,” he answered stomping his foot, “there’s always a teacher standing around yelling her head off.”

“Why’s she doing that?” his mother wondered.

“I suppose,” he replied, “so we won’t miss our mothers.”

Paul speaks of a love that is “patient and kind...not irritable...never gives up or loses faith...is always hopeful and endures through every situation.” Jimmy would no doubt have a difficult time believing that he could ever find a home where that type of love was the rule not the exception. For that matter, most of us would enjoy living in a home where a love like that was always practiced, too.

What we sometimes call love is our desire to dominate others for the sake of controlling them. God’s love is vastly different. He expects us to help others by showing His care and compassion at all times. He wants all believers to work graciously with others to bring Him honor and glory in all that we do.

Prayer: Help us, Lord, to live the type of love that Paul writes about so that all that we do and say will be pleasing to You and helpful to others. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Scripture for Today: 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.