FAITH BUILDING LOVE

God’s Word
…but love your neighbor as yourself. Leviticus 19:18



Encouragement Shared:
In a devotion I read recently… The writer shared an exercise that was part of conference. I will title it Faith Building Love - It’s a love building exercise. We need to strengthen our hearts, mind and spirit through Christ in love. It prompted me to share the exercise and to build our faith through love. Paul states that we can have all the gifts, all the wisdom, understanding and live sacrificially but without love it means nothing. I often wonder how do I love? Do I love my neighbor as I love myself? The bible commands us - “‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD. Leviticus 19:18
I know sometimes it’s hard to love our neighbor as our self. My encouragement today is We can do all things through Christ who gives us strength. [Philippians 4:13] Lets all take the journey to build our “Faith through Love”.
Faith Building Love


Exercise Part 1
1. Read 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 out loud.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never fails.

2. Read 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 out loud and replace the word love for Jesus’ name.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 Jesus suffers long and is kind; Jesus does not envy; Jesus does not parade himself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek his own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Jesus never fails.

God Is Love:
The power of God’s love for us is priceless! He is ever present in all our circumstance. In order to love we must abide in him, through God’s word, through worship, through prayer, through bible study time, through tithing and serving him. He will sustain and equip for every good work he has called us to. The power of God’s love is infinite. He is faithful and most important; God is Love. Reading 1 Corinthians 13 in both ways for me personally reiterates the power of love for his people. It inspired me to share it today. How do I love? I need God to show me daily… through the washing of his powerful word.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father,
We thank you for your unfailing infinite love you have toward your daughters. God you are our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling. There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High. God you are in the midst of daughters, they shall not be moved; God shall help his daughters, just at the break of dawn. Our LORD of hosts is with us; You Father are the God of Jacob and our refuge.
We thank you for your presence in our times of need. We thank you for the gift of love through Christ. Strengthen us to love- Let us learn how to love one another deeply, as Christ has loved us. Thank you for guiding us through the counsel of your word. In Jesus name we pray. Amen!
Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance,
In Christ Love,
Jennifer Pettiford