Daily devotional, July 26, 2024
The Singing Contest
"For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,” says the LORD, who has compassion on you."
Isaiah 54:10
Singing contests were one of the most popular types of television shows during my childhood. Of course, the competitors always chose the songs with the highest notes, as these allowed for higher audience impact. The song entitled “Power of Love,” originally sung by Celine Dion, is a constant song choice of contestants as it showcases their powerful voices.
As followers of Jesus, there is no other love more powerful than that of God through Christ Jesus. No love could ever protect us more, no love could be as merciful, and love could be as self-giving.
"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."
Lamentations 3:22-23
When we think that we have experienced the best kind of human love in this lifetime, we will be surprised that such love can still fail. When that person dies, the love dies with him too. But with our Savior, His love is endless. It will never faint, it will not grow weary, and it will never die. It is the only kind of love that could last forever.
"I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you."
Jeremiah 31:3
Likewise, our Savior’s love will never fail us. It is unconditional, and is offered even to us who do not deserve it because of our sinfulness.
"For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us"
Romans 5:7-8
So what now? What do we do with such a kind of love offered to us by no less than our Heavenly Father, and most powerful creator? We choose it. We choose to have that love over anything offered to us in this world. We will choose to be faithful to the one true lover of our souls.
"We love because he first loved us."
1 John 4:19
How do we practically carry this out? Well, we can show that Jesus is our choice, by becoming His committed follower and living a life of worship. When we surrender our lives to Him, repent and step away from our sinful lives and obey his teachings and commands, we show that we choose His love above all else.
"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full." John 15:9-13
Choosing the love Jesus offers does not mean that we will stop loving others. It only means, we prioritize the Lord and that we honor Him in all the choices and decisions that we make. That His words and teachings provide the overarching guide in the life that we live. And that our main goal in everything that we do is to please Him — because when we do we get to live a life free from the natural consequences of sins, and blessed with God’s joy, contentment, and peace that transcends the difficult circumstances we will inevitably face.
"For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38-39
Thank you for reading through our devotional today. I invite you to ponder on Romans 8:35-39 and 1 John 4:7-18 to dig deeper on today’s topic.
Reflection Question: Have you accepted God’s offer of love to you through Christ Jesus?
Conversation with the Lord: _Heavenly Father, thank you for your lovingkindness and generosity. For your undeserved and unfailing love. I know I am unworthy but I am just so grateful for your mercy. Help me extend your love to others too. Amen
