06/26/2026
Daily Devotion 6/26/26
Scripture -
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.” – 1 Corinthians 13:4
Devotion -
The Apostle Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 12 that he did not want to see uniformity in the body of believers, but rather diversity in the gifts that the Holy Spirit has given to people. Some would have wisdom, others knowledge, and even speaking in tongues; they are all part of the same body. Paul goes on to say in chapter 13, though all of these gifts are wonderful, love is indispensable, for without love we are nothing.
A great expectation is given to the followers of Jesus amidst the fallibility of mankind, that is, for Christians to be Christ-like and live and love the way He did and does. The challenge for many of us comes when we have to broaden our scope to include those we do not love. How do we feel love toward those we think do not deserve it?
We have common ground with them in that we do not deserve the love of God either; it is a gift that we have freely received and should freely give. Then the nuance and reality make this verse shift from the standard warm-and-fuzzy outset to one of the greatest reflective challenges any Christian could face, and it is presented in the most loving way.
Prayer-
Dear Heavenly Father,
Even when we think we have a grip on Your word, You call us out to the depths of faith in an ocean of love. We ask that You work on our hearts and bring us to a place where we exude the gifts given to us by the Holy Spirit, and that they all be marked by the love that pours out from Jesus Christ living in our hearts. Let the responsibility to love fall on all of us toward one another, with neither expecting more than what they should love themselves out of the love of Christ. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.
By Abran Garcia (Abe)