In her sermon entitled, "Love Is Not... (Part 1)," Pastor Milissa invited us to consider how many of our relational problems are symptoms of loveless self-seeking—envy, boasting, arrogance, and rudeness—and how Jesus’ self-giving love on the cross is both the model and the cure that can transform our hearts toward true, others-focused love.
We invite you to spend the next five days reflecting and praying through this devotional based on that message.
We invite you to spend the next five days reflecting and praying through this devotional based on that message.
Day 1: The Diagnosis of Self-Seeking
Rest: Take 2 minutes of silence and invite God - Father, Son, and Spirit - to draw near to you in this time.
Read: 1 John 4:7-12, 19
Reflect: Just as a doctor must correctly diagnose a disease before treating it, we must honestly assess the condition of our hearts. The Corinthian church struggled with competition, division, and self-promotion—all symptoms of a deeper disease: loveless self-seeking. When we orient our lives around personal success, advancement, and getting our needs met, we push love out. Love cannot compete with a heart turned inward. But here's the good news: "We love because he first loved us." God doesn't demand we manufacture love from our empty reserves. Instead, He is the source. When we experience His radical, sacrificial love demonstrated on the cross, our hearts begin to heal. Today, acknowledge where self-seeking has infected your heart, and ask God to fill you with His transforming love.
Pause and talk with the Lord honestly about all of the thoughts and feelings that arise in you as you reflect on this. Ask Him to reveal where in your life are you seeking yourself first rather than God and others?
Respond: Thanking God for this time, invite Him to continue to speak throughout this day, and close by praying the "Our Father".
Read: 1 John 4:7-12, 19
Reflect: Just as a doctor must correctly diagnose a disease before treating it, we must honestly assess the condition of our hearts. The Corinthian church struggled with competition, division, and self-promotion—all symptoms of a deeper disease: loveless self-seeking. When we orient our lives around personal success, advancement, and getting our needs met, we push love out. Love cannot compete with a heart turned inward. But here's the good news: "We love because he first loved us." God doesn't demand we manufacture love from our empty reserves. Instead, He is the source. When we experience His radical, sacrificial love demonstrated on the cross, our hearts begin to heal. Today, acknowledge where self-seeking has infected your heart, and ask God to fill you with His transforming love.
Pause and talk with the Lord honestly about all of the thoughts and feelings that arise in you as you reflect on this. Ask Him to reveal where in your life are you seeking yourself first rather than God and others?
Respond: Thanking God for this time, invite Him to continue to speak throughout this day, and close by praying the "Our Father".
Day 2: Freedom from Envy
Rest: Take 2 minutes of silence and invite God - Father, Son, and Spirit - to draw near to you in this time.
Read: Philippians 2:1-11
Reflect: Envy reveals our ego-centric insecurity—that painful awareness of what others have that we lack. We measure our worth using others as the measuring stick, believing that what they possess will make us feel whole and successful. But envy is a trap that steals our contentment and isolates us from genuine community. Paul's letter to the Philippians offers the antidote: the mind of Christ. Jesus, though equal with God, didn't grasp at status or power. He emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant. When we fix our eyes on Jesus rather than on ourselves or others, comparison loses its power. We discover our identity not in what we achieve or acquire, but in being deeply loved children of God. Contentment flows from knowing who God made us to be.
Pause and talk with the Lord honestly about all of the thoughts and feelings that arise in you as you reflect on this. Ask Him to reveal who have you been envious of, and what that reveals about where you're seeking fulfillment?
Respond: Spend a moment thanking God for this time, invite Him to continue to speak throughout this day, and close by praying the "Our Father".
Read: Philippians 2:1-11
Reflect: Envy reveals our ego-centric insecurity—that painful awareness of what others have that we lack. We measure our worth using others as the measuring stick, believing that what they possess will make us feel whole and successful. But envy is a trap that steals our contentment and isolates us from genuine community. Paul's letter to the Philippians offers the antidote: the mind of Christ. Jesus, though equal with God, didn't grasp at status or power. He emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant. When we fix our eyes on Jesus rather than on ourselves or others, comparison loses its power. We discover our identity not in what we achieve or acquire, but in being deeply loved children of God. Contentment flows from knowing who God made us to be.
Pause and talk with the Lord honestly about all of the thoughts and feelings that arise in you as you reflect on this. Ask Him to reveal who have you been envious of, and what that reveals about where you're seeking fulfillment?
Respond: Spend a moment thanking God for this time, invite Him to continue to speak throughout this day, and close by praying the "Our Father".
Day 3: Humility Over Arrogance
Rest: Take 2 minutes of silence and invite God - Father, Son, and Spirit - to draw near to you in this time.
Read: Matthew 20:20-28
Reflect: James and John's mother wanted her sons elevated above the other disciples—a power grab rooted in worldly definitions of success. But Jesus turned everything upside down: "Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant." In God's Kingdom, the path to greatness is downward, not upward. Arrogance assumes superiority over others; humility recognizes we're all equals before the cross. When we look down on others—through racism, harsh judgment, or a savior complex—we reveal hearts infected with self-seeking pride. True love sees others as wonderfully made in God's image, deserving honor and dignity. Jesus didn't lord His authority over us; He laid down His life. As we gaze at Him on the cross, we see perfect humility that heals our arrogance and teaches us to serve rather than be served.
Pause and talk with the Lord honestly about all of the thoughts and feelings that arise in you as you reflect on this. Ask Him to reveal where arrogance may have crept into your attitudes toward others?
Respond: Spend a moment thanking God for this time, invite Him to continue to speak throughout this day, and close by praying the "Our Father".
Read: Matthew 20:20-28
Reflect: James and John's mother wanted her sons elevated above the other disciples—a power grab rooted in worldly definitions of success. But Jesus turned everything upside down: "Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant." In God's Kingdom, the path to greatness is downward, not upward. Arrogance assumes superiority over others; humility recognizes we're all equals before the cross. When we look down on others—through racism, harsh judgment, or a savior complex—we reveal hearts infected with self-seeking pride. True love sees others as wonderfully made in God's image, deserving honor and dignity. Jesus didn't lord His authority over us; He laid down His life. As we gaze at Him on the cross, we see perfect humility that heals our arrogance and teaches us to serve rather than be served.
Pause and talk with the Lord honestly about all of the thoughts and feelings that arise in you as you reflect on this. Ask Him to reveal where arrogance may have crept into your attitudes toward others?
Respond: Spend a moment thanking God for this time, invite Him to continue to speak throughout this day, and close by praying the "Our Father".
Day 4: Honoring Others in Love
Rest: Take 2 minutes of silence and invite God - Father, Son, and Spirit - to draw near to you in this time.
Read: Romans 12:9-21
Reflect: "Honor one another above yourselves," Paul writes. Love actively considers everyone in the community, showing honor to all. Rudeness, interrupting, excluding, gossiping—these behaviors dishonor others by putting our needs first without considering their dignity or experience. In our individualistic culture, we easily forget that our actions impact the whole community. But genuine love asks: "How does my behavior affect others?" It chooses kindness over convenience, patience over impatience, inclusion over exclusion. When we've experienced Jesus' honoring love—He who calls us friends, co-heirs, beloved—we're empowered to extend that same honor to others. This isn't about perfect manners; it's about a heart transformation that sees others as Jesus sees them: precious, valuable, worthy of respect and consideration.
Pause and talk with the Lord honestly about all of the thoughts and feelings that arise in you as you reflect on this. Ask Him about any "rude" behaviors have become normal in your life that dishonor others?
Respond: Spend a moment thanking God for this time, invite Him to continue to speak throughout this day, and close by praying the "Our Father".
Read: Romans 12:9-21
Reflect: "Honor one another above yourselves," Paul writes. Love actively considers everyone in the community, showing honor to all. Rudeness, interrupting, excluding, gossiping—these behaviors dishonor others by putting our needs first without considering their dignity or experience. In our individualistic culture, we easily forget that our actions impact the whole community. But genuine love asks: "How does my behavior affect others?" It chooses kindness over convenience, patience over impatience, inclusion over exclusion. When we've experienced Jesus' honoring love—He who calls us friends, co-heirs, beloved—we're empowered to extend that same honor to others. This isn't about perfect manners; it's about a heart transformation that sees others as Jesus sees them: precious, valuable, worthy of respect and consideration.
Pause and talk with the Lord honestly about all of the thoughts and feelings that arise in you as you reflect on this. Ask Him about any "rude" behaviors have become normal in your life that dishonor others?
Respond: Spend a moment thanking God for this time, invite Him to continue to speak throughout this day, and close by praying the "Our Father".
Day 5: Laying Down Our Lives
Rest: Take 2 minutes of silence and invite God - Father, Son, and Spirit - to draw near to you in this time.
Read: 1 John 3:11-24
Reflect: "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters." Love isn't merely words or feelings—it's action and truth. Jesus demonstrated perfect love by dying on the cross, putting to death our self-seeking ways to bring us life. Now, empowered by His Spirit, we're called to the same cruciform love: laying down our power, privilege, preferences, and selfish desires for others' good. This is radically counter-cultural. Our world says, "Seek yourself first; get your needs met; climb the ladder." But Jesus says, "Not so with you." As we daily die to self-seeking and choose Jesus-seeking and other-seeking love, our hearts heal. The symptoms decrease. We become the loving people God created us to be—and the world sees Jesus in us.
Pause and talk with the Lord honestly about all of the thoughts and feelings that arise in you as you reflect on this. Ask Him what specific preference or privilege God may be calling you to lay down for someone else's good this week?
Respond: Spend a moment thanking God for this time, invite Him to continue to speak throughout this day, and close by praying the "Our Father".
Read: 1 John 3:11-24
Reflect: "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters." Love isn't merely words or feelings—it's action and truth. Jesus demonstrated perfect love by dying on the cross, putting to death our self-seeking ways to bring us life. Now, empowered by His Spirit, we're called to the same cruciform love: laying down our power, privilege, preferences, and selfish desires for others' good. This is radically counter-cultural. Our world says, "Seek yourself first; get your needs met; climb the ladder." But Jesus says, "Not so with you." As we daily die to self-seeking and choose Jesus-seeking and other-seeking love, our hearts heal. The symptoms decrease. We become the loving people God created us to be—and the world sees Jesus in us.
Pause and talk with the Lord honestly about all of the thoughts and feelings that arise in you as you reflect on this. Ask Him what specific preference or privilege God may be calling you to lay down for someone else's good this week?
Respond: Spend a moment thanking God for this time, invite Him to continue to speak throughout this day, and close by praying the "Our Father".
Closing Prayer for the Week: Lord Jesus, You are the source of all true love. Heal my self-seeking heart. Free me from envy, boasting, arrogance, and rudeness. Fill me with Your Spirit so I may love others as You have loved me—sacrificially, humbly, and completely. Transform me into Your image.
Amen.
Amen.