In her sermon entitled, "Love Is Not... (Part 2)," Pastor Milissa invited us to examine our responses when we're offended, hurt, or wronged by others. The good news is that because Jesus first loved us—forgiving us completely through the cross—we can love others even when they hurt us. Through the Holy Spirit's empowerment, we can break free from the chains of anger, grudges, and revenge that only harm us and damage relationships.
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: Loved First, Love Always
Rest: Take 2 minutes of silence and invite God - Father, Son, and Spirit - to draw near to you in this time.
Read: 1 John 4:7-21
Reflect: We cannot manufacture genuine love on our own strength. The foundation of our ability to love others rests entirely on this truth: "We love because he first loved us" (1 John 4:19). Before you took your first breath, before you made your first mistake, before you even knew His name—God loved you. His love isn't a response to your performance; it's the very reason you exist. When you grasp the depth of Christ's love demonstrated on the cross, it has the power to transform how you see everyone around you.
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 help this truth to sink in deep: you are completely, unconditionally, eternally loved by God. Let His love fill the empty places in your heart, then watch it overflow toward others. Take some time to sit quietly in His love, trusting that, even if nothing feels all that different in the moment, the Holy Spirit is doing His good work in the silence and one day soon you'll see the fruit of your trust and surrender.
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 4:7-21
Reflect: We cannot manufacture genuine love on our own strength. The foundation of our ability to love others rests entirely on this truth: "We love because he first loved us" (1 John 4:19). Before you took your first breath, before you made your first mistake, before you even knew His name—God loved you. His love isn't a response to your performance; it's the very reason you exist. When you grasp the depth of Christ's love demonstrated on the cross, it has the power to transform how you see everyone around you.
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 help this truth to sink in deep: you are completely, unconditionally, eternally loved by God. Let His love fill the empty places in your heart, then watch it overflow toward others. Take some time to sit quietly in His love, trusting that, even if nothing feels all that different in the moment, the Holy Spirit is doing His good work in the silence and one day soon you'll see the fruit of your trust and surrender.
Respond: Thanking God for this time, invite Him to continue to speak throughout this day, and close by praying the "Our Father".
Day 2: Slow to Anger, Quick to Forgive
Rest: Take 2 minutes of silence and invite God - Father, Son, and Spirit - to draw near to you in this time.
Read: Ephesians 4:26-32
Reflect: What provokes your anger? A disrespectful comment? An inconvenience? Someone eating your food? Our quick anger often reveals our self-seeking hearts. Paul warns us not to let the sun go down on our anger because bitterness takes root quickly. God, who has every right to be angry at our rebellion, is instead "slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love." He doesn't keep a running tab of your failures. The cross canceled your debt completely. Today, examine what makes you easily angered. Is it wounded pride? Unmet expectations? A desire for control? Bring these to Jesus. Ask the Holy Spirit to replace your quick anger with His patient 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 who who has wronged you and release them—not because they've earned forgiveness, but because Christ has freed you to forgive.
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: Ephesians 4:26-32
Reflect: What provokes your anger? A disrespectful comment? An inconvenience? Someone eating your food? Our quick anger often reveals our self-seeking hearts. Paul warns us not to let the sun go down on our anger because bitterness takes root quickly. God, who has every right to be angry at our rebellion, is instead "slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love." He doesn't keep a running tab of your failures. The cross canceled your debt completely. Today, examine what makes you easily angered. Is it wounded pride? Unmet expectations? A desire for control? Bring these to Jesus. Ask the Holy Spirit to replace your quick anger with His patient 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 who who has wronged you and release them—not because they've earned forgiveness, but because Christ has freed you to forgive.
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: Erasing the Record of Wrongs
Rest: Take 2 minutes of silence and invite God - Father, Son, and Spirit - to draw near to you in this time.
Read: Colossians 2:13-14; Psalm 103:8-12
Reflect: God keeps no record of your wrongs. Let that sink in. Every bitter word, every selfish choice, every moment of pride—nailed to the cross, removed "as far as the east is from the west." Yet we often keep meticulous records of others' offenses against us, replaying grievances like old movies, nursing grudges that poison our own hearts. This unforgiveness doesn't hurt them; it imprisons us. The accounting language in 1 Corinthians 13 reminds us that love cancels debts rather than collecting them.
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 one grudge you're holding. Write down what that person "owes" you, then tear it up as a symbolic act of forgiveness. Remember: forgiveness doesn't excuse their behavior; it frees you from bitterness. You're releasing them not because they deserve it, but because Christ released you.
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: Colossians 2:13-14; Psalm 103:8-12
Reflect: God keeps no record of your wrongs. Let that sink in. Every bitter word, every selfish choice, every moment of pride—nailed to the cross, removed "as far as the east is from the west." Yet we often keep meticulous records of others' offenses against us, replaying grievances like old movies, nursing grudges that poison our own hearts. This unforgiveness doesn't hurt them; it imprisons us. The accounting language in 1 Corinthians 13 reminds us that love cancels debts rather than collecting them.
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 one grudge you're holding. Write down what that person "owes" you, then tear it up as a symbolic act of forgiveness. Remember: forgiveness doesn't excuse their behavior; it frees you from bitterness. You're releasing them not because they deserve it, but because Christ released you.
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: Blessing Those Who Curse You
Rest: Take 2 minutes of silence and invite God - Father, Son, and Spirit - to draw near to you in this time.
Read: Luke 6:27-36; Romans 12:14-21
Reflect: "Love your enemies." These may be Jesus' most countercultural words. Everything in us wants to repay evil for evil, to seek vindication, to make them pay. But Jesus calls us to something radically different: bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you, do good to those who hate you. This isn't natural—it's supernatural. Only the Holy Spirit can empower this kind of love. "Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that." (Martin Luther King Jr.) When you respond to hate with hate, you become like your enemy. But when you respond to evil with good, you reflect Jesus. Today,
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 help you pray specifically for someone who has hurt you... and then pray for them. Ask God to bless them, to reveal Himself to them, to transform them. This prayer will likely change you more than it changes them (though nothing is beyond his power). God has a good plan for them too; pray that they learn to walk in step with it.
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: Luke 6:27-36; Romans 12:14-21
Reflect: "Love your enemies." These may be Jesus' most countercultural words. Everything in us wants to repay evil for evil, to seek vindication, to make them pay. But Jesus calls us to something radically different: bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you, do good to those who hate you. This isn't natural—it's supernatural. Only the Holy Spirit can empower this kind of love. "Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that." (Martin Luther King Jr.) When you respond to hate with hate, you become like your enemy. But when you respond to evil with good, you reflect Jesus. Today,
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 help you pray specifically for someone who has hurt you... and then pray for them. Ask God to bless them, to reveal Himself to them, to transform them. This prayer will likely change you more than it changes them (though nothing is beyond his power). God has a good plan for them too; pray that they learn to walk in step with it.
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: Love Never Fails
Rest: Take 2 minutes of silence and invite God - Father, Son, and Spirit - to draw near to you in this time.
Read: 1 Corinthians 13
Reflect: Read this familiar passage as if for the first time, but substitute Jesus' name for the word "love." "Jesus is patient, Jesus is kind. Jesus does not envy, Jesus does not boast, Jesus is not proud..." This is who loves you. Perfectly. Completely. Always. Now read it again, inserting your own name. Where do you fall short? We all do. But here's the beautiful truth: because Jesus first loved us, His Spirit empowers us to love like Him. Love isn't primarily a feeling; it's a choice empowered by God's presence. When passion fades, when others disappoint us, when we're hurt—love chooses to remain patient, kind, forgiving, hopeful. This love never fails because it's rooted in the One who never fails.
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 one specific way you could demonstrate Christ's love to someone—through patience, kindness, forgiveness, or perseverance. And then ask Him to fill you afresh with His Holy Spirit, that you may love because He first loved you.
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 Corinthians 13
Reflect: Read this familiar passage as if for the first time, but substitute Jesus' name for the word "love." "Jesus is patient, Jesus is kind. Jesus does not envy, Jesus does not boast, Jesus is not proud..." This is who loves you. Perfectly. Completely. Always. Now read it again, inserting your own name. Where do you fall short? We all do. But here's the beautiful truth: because Jesus first loved us, His Spirit empowers us to love like Him. Love isn't primarily a feeling; it's a choice empowered by God's presence. When passion fades, when others disappoint us, when we're hurt—love chooses to remain patient, kind, forgiving, hopeful. This love never fails because it's rooted in the One who never fails.
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 one specific way you could demonstrate Christ's love to someone—through patience, kindness, forgiveness, or perseverance. And then ask Him to fill you afresh with His Holy Spirit, that you may love because He first loved you.
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.