Daily Devotional

ADDING MORE LOVE AND GRACE

August 10

eloved, the way to think of others in the household of faith is to consider them as brothers and sisters in the Lord. There is far too much competition in the Body of Christ. Some see others' gifts and become jealous and envious of them for no reason at all. The true Spirit of Christ operating in you is proven by the fact that you rejoice at the spiritual success of another brother or sister. This is true tenderness and kindness and is a powerful statement proving that you have had your heart changed and softened with the true love of Christ. Your Father searches for evidence of the presence and operation of the Lord Jesus in your daily lives. He then, adds to you more love and grace that you may indeed become the most like the Lord Jesus that you can become in this life. This pleases your Father in Heaven. Many of the Children of the King are so preoccupied with their own interests that they overlook the heart needs and cries of those who have been sent across their paths as tests to prove their compassion and sincerity. Do you remember the story of the "Good Samaritan?" (Luke 10:30-36) Read it again! Here, you must answer the question, "who is my brother?" Of course, Child of God, your brother or sister is always the person that God has reserved to send across your path to prove you as one who has sincerely been transformed by the power of love and grace. The true Child of the King who bears abundant fruit for the Lord, forgets about himself/herself and lovingly focuses on the person who has been given to them to love by the Father. That person is often in a helpless, poverty-stricken condition. That person literally becomes to you the Lord Jesus himself in a broken body, desperately clinging to life, without hope. What will you do? Will you say, "Someone more qualified will come along and help them Lord!" I think not! You have been chosen to love the unlovely person. You have been chosen to forget about yourself and place above yourself that person who is broken and ruined and in need of love and care! Do you believe this? You do well if you do!

Prayer

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Father, how many times in my selfishness and self-centered living have I childishly overlooked the blessings of the Lord in the form of broken, ruined people sent my way to love? Never again! I truly repent of my selfishness, and ask for sincere forgiveness in Jesus’ name! I will love and cherish the broken, hurting that you send to me and will receive them as my own brother or sister in the Lord Jesus, amen!