Freedom: Galatians 5:13

For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity to indulge your flesh, but through love serve one another.
Galatians 5:13 (NET)

In the United States of America, today is Independence Day, causing me to think about freedom. Freedom through Christ. How are we free? By following the teachings of Jesus and by being His disciple; by believing in Him, and walking in obedience. We obtained freedom by Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. Through our faith in Christ, we live in freedom, freedom from the slavery of sin; our sins are forgiven. We belong to God; we are His chosen.

In freedom, we are allowed to make choices. Choices we will be held accountable for. Our freedom is not to be used as an excuse to indulge ourselves, but instead to serve one another in love.
As the Message bible version of Galatians 5:14 states: “For everything, we know about God’s Word is summed up in a single sentence: Love others as you love yourself. That’s an act of true freedom.”

^13-14It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just make sure that you don’t use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom. Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love; that’s how freedom grows. For everything we know about God’s Word is summed up in a single sentence: Love others as you love yourself. That’s an act of true freedom.
Galatians 5:13-14 (MSG)

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By God’s grace, we have freedom. Is your freedom as a Christian focused on self-satisfaction or on serving others in love?

Prayer; Lord Jesus, we thank you for setting us free from slavery to sin. We thank You for the freedom you have granted us through Your grace. Guide us to use this freedom to be more like You in our actions. As the Gomphrena, Fireworks pink blossoms with tiny yellow flowers spread outward in all directions; let us spread Your love outward to others, in all directions. Amen

God is love: 1 John 4:7-8

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
1 John 4: 7-8 (NIV)

Love comes from God; it flows from His heart to us. Since God is love, when we accept Him, we grow in love. Knowing God teaches us to love. You can’t know God if you don’t love. God loved the world so much that he gave us Jesus.

We love because he first loved us. God so loved the world He gave us Jesus.
John 4-19

God gave us His one and only Son; so that we could have eternal life.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16

Jesus loves us like God the Father loved Him.

Just as the Father has loved Me, I also have loved you;
John 15:9a

Jesus came to save the lost, to heal the sick, to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.(Mark 10:45)

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
Luke 19:10 (NIV)

On the night He was betrayed, Jesus gave his disciples a new commandment.

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”
John 13:34

For God is love. 💖

Are you recognized as a Christian by your love?

Prayer; Our Heavenly Father, we thank you for Your love. Help us to be better Christians, to grow in Your love. Teach us to love one another as you have loved us. Like the blossoming, open flower of the peony, let us blossom in Your love and be open to Jesus’ commandment to love one another. Amen

Harmony and Peace: 2Corinthians 13:11

Dear brothers and sisters, I close my letter with these last words: Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you.
2 Corinthians 13:11 (NLT)

Paul is writing to the church in Corinth, where they were struggling to keep a Christian lifestyle. Many of the believers were being swayed by the city’s immorality, idolatry, and false teachers. Paul is seeking for them to mend their ways and restore their unity of purpose. He encourages them to be joyful, to grow in maturity. To repair their relationships so they could work together and encourage one another. To be of one mind, with shared values; to become complete, restored, work in harmony, and live in peace. Traits church people are still in need of today. For God’s love and peace surround those who work in unity for His good.

In today’s world, we are bombarded with bickering, name-calling, and disagreement daily. Are you encouraging harmony and peace in your church/community?

Prayer; Our Heavenly Father, you are a God of love and peace. We thank you for your compassion and grace to us. Teach us to mend our ways and live in unity, harmony, and peace. Keep us strong, in Your way, unswayed by false teaching and immorality. Guide us in your truth and light. Like the Echinacea flower’s beauty is enhanced when grouped together; let our life be enhanced with harmony and peace when we go forward in unity. In Jesus’ holy and loving name. Amen

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Need prayer? I believe in the power of prayer and would be glad to pray for you. Leave a comment or message me on the contact page. 🌺

Perfect Love: 1 John 4:12

12 No one has seen God, ever. But if we love one another, God dwells deeply within us, and his love becomes complete in us – perfect love!
1 John 4:12 (MSG)

We haven’t seen God’s image physically, but it was displayed in Jesus’ life. God, through the Holy Spirit, dwells within the hearts of His people. When we abide in Him, He transforms us until His love becomes complete in us; and we move away from worldly action becoming, more Christ-like. We are transformed and act with love and compassion; His love completes us – perfect love! Let us be recognized as Christians by our love.

No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God resides in us, and his love is perfected in us.
1 John 4:12 (NET)

Do others see God in you, by your love? Are you striving to be more Christ-like and perfected in love?

Prayer; Our Heavenly Father, we might not see you, but we feel your presence and are comforted by You. Thank You for Your love and compassion for us. Lord, teach us to be open-hearted and abide in You. Guide us to learn from and submit to the Holy Spirit to live in truth, so Your love becomes complete in us. Like violets are recognized by their delicate purple flowers, let us be recognized through our Christ-like actions and perfected love for one another.

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I believe in the power of prayer and would be glad to pray for you. Leave a comment or message me on the contact page. 🌺

Love One Another: 1Peter 1:21-22

²¹Through him you now trust in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. ²²You have purified your souls by obeying the truth in order to show sincere mutual love. So love one another earnestly from a pure heart.
1 Peter 1: 21-22 (NET)

Jesus, Son of God, was crucified for our salvation. God raised Him from the dead and exalted Him in heaven. Jesus’s victory over death into glory brings trust; we trust in God, He sacrificed His Son to save us. We have faith and hope in God’s promises and His plans for us. With belief, our hearts are open to the truth of God’s Word and His love. We need to embrace Christ’s commandment “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” (John 13:34). When our hope is in Christ, we are born again, and we can love one another earnestly, sincerely, and with a pure heart.

Is your heart open to love one another as Christ loved us?

Prayer; Lord, Jesus create in us a pure heart. Help us to forgive, accept, and love one another. Open our heart to Your truth and direction. Teach us to love one another earnestly, sincerely, and with a pure heart. Like the gentle, glorious beauty of the rose, let us be kind and gentle and spread Your glorious love. Amen

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I believe in the power of prayer and would be glad to pray for you. Leave a comment or message me on the contact page. 🌺

Overcome Evil: Romans 12:21

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Romans 12:21 (NIV)

The bible is full of quotes about loving one another. Jesus said to love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:39). When it seems evil is winning, we often become frustrated, angry, and want revenge. May the Lord’s love and mercy give us strength during times of unrest. Lord open our hearts and help us to overcome evil with good. Teach us to work together to strive for the good of all mankind, to spread love, and overcome evil.

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
Martin Luther King, Jr.

To overcome evil we need to respond with love. Where can you be a good neighbor and spread love today?

Prayer: Our Heavenly Father, where there is hatred, let us spread love. Help us to love one another and overcome evil with good works. Let your light shine upon us and drive out the darkness. As the bright peony blossoms soften and enhance a concrete path, teach us to soften our hearts and follow your path by sharing Your love. In Jesus’ holy name. Amen.