“And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.” – 1 Corinthians 13:3
Scripture reading: 1 Corinthians 13
The importance of love is one of the great emphases of the ages. Singers sing about it, poets write about it, and most of us at one point in our teenage lives have found ourselves kept up at night with the question of love!
We cannot speak about holiness, or Christ-likeness, without speaking about love. Growing as a Christian is not merely the idea of conformity to new standards – stopping certain actions we used to do and putting better habits and behaviours in their place. Growing as a Christian is about love. It’s about growing in love for God, where love is understood not merely as a feeling, but a life orientation that yields delight and joy in drawing near to God. Sanctification is about growing in love. That is why the Samaritan served! That parable demonstrated what ‘loving our neighbour’ was all about, and it reflected the work of Jesus. Jesus didn’t come to the world to save sinners out of duty. He came to save sinners that He loved.
In your pursuit of holiness, are you growing in love? Has your love for God and others grown through time? May God help us to be those who love, and may our service please God because it is service born from love.
Suggestions for prayer
Pray that God would help us to know and reflect His love.
Pastor Greg Bylsma is the pastor of the Living Water Reformed Church of Brantford, Ontario (a member church of the URCNA). He is a graduate of Mid-America Reformed Seminary and was ordained to the Gospel ministry in 2005. After over 20 years in the ministry, he still loves his job and considers it an incredible honour to be able to teach others about the beauty of Jesus Christ. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com.