Growing in love

To your faith, do your best to add goodness,
and to that goodness, increase your knowledge.
Then what you know can help to guide your actions.

And, with this self-control, persist in showing
devoted service to God, especially by being
kind to every brother and sister in Christ.

To all of this add agape – not just brotherly
love or passion – but benevolent, sacrificial,
godly love.

2 Peter 1:5-7 prayer-a-phrased by Mary Sayler, ©2017, using scriptures from many of the translations found on Bible Gateway

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God is working it out!

What relief God’s Word brings even in the most difficult times!

"For we KNOW
that ALL
things WORK TOGETHER
for GOOD
for those who LOVE GOD
and are called
according to the PLAN
and purpose of GOD!"

Romans 8:28 paraphrased by Mary Sayler, © 2017, using scriptures from many of the translations on Bible Gateway

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Loving like Jesus

Every time I’ve read John 13:34, I’ve been puzzled by Jesus’ words: “I’m giving you a new commandment: love one another.” Since I’ve heard that longer than I can remember, this word of exhortation did not seem new to me. But when I looked up the phrase “love one another” on Bible Gateway, I found no earlier reference.

In the Hebrew Bible, however, God says, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might,” Deuteronomy 6:4-5. Bringing that love down to earth, Leviticus 19:18 says, “you shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

In Matthew 26:37-40, Jesus put those two commands together by saying, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment, and the second is like unto it, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

A problem arises, though, when people have trouble loving themselves, much less their neighbors! Nevertheless, God still wants this, and so the New Testament clarifies the concept of the true love to be found in Christ Jesus:

• He spoke healing words.
• He called people by name.
• He showed God’s love.
• He taught the kind attitudes we’re to have.
• He gave His life.
• He brought us life eternal.
• He called us to be brothers and sisters
• He empowered us to be children of God.
• He continues to pray for us now.

In the hours before His death, Jesus told His disciples: “I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I’ve loved you, so you also must love one another,” John 13:34.

Hopefully, we’ll love and appreciate ourselves and our neighbors. Regardless, we must love one another as conduits of Jesus Christ, Whose love flows in and through us. We can't do this by ourselves, but we can agree to it. We can give Jesus' command our amen.

May the Almighty God our Father help us to allow Christ’s love to pour forth profusely. Let it be! So be it. Amen.


Mary Sayler, © 2017, with scriptures from many of the translations on Bible Gateway

Giving up fear for Lent and for ever

On this Ash Wednesday, let us give up all of our fears for Lent and for ever! Pray for the Lord to bind any spirit of fear in or around you and fill you with the Holy Spirit of Love, Joy, Peace, and the Power found in Jesus’ Name. As the Bible says:

God did not give us a spirit of fear!

God gave us a Spirit of Power,
a Spirit of Love,

a non-chaotic Spirit of Order
and Self-control.


2 Timothy 1:7 has been prayer-a-phrased and italicized by Mary Sayler, © 2017, using scriptures from many of the translations found on Bible Gateway.


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Putting our loving actions where our mouth is

Dearest Children of God,
let’s not just talk about love
or say we love one another.
Let us demonstrate love
by actions
that show we truly care.

1 John 3:18 has been prayer-a-phrased in the lines above by Mary Sayler, © 2017, who used scriptures from many translations on Bible Gateway.

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All of God's laws in one word

The laws of God clearly say:
Do not be unfaithful to your spouse.
Do not take the life out of anyone.
Steal absolutely nothing.
And never agonize over having
what someone else has!

These commandments
and all of God’s law can be
summed up in one word:
Love.

Care about other people
and their well-being
as much as you care
about your own.

Love
never wrongs anyone
nor wishes them ill.

So if you keep at heart
your own interests
and also your concerns
for other people, then
your love will completely
satisfy God’s law.


To show how the Bible speaks to us today, Romans 13:9-10 has been prayer-a-phrased by Mary Sayler, © 2017, who used scriptures from the many translations found on Bible Gateway.

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Love one another

Beloved friends in Christ,
God loves us so much,
we ought also to love one another.

We haven’t seen God,
but if we give love
to people we can see,
we know God lives in us
and perfects in us His love.

1 John 4:11-12 prayer-a-phrased by Mary Sayler, © 2017, with scriptures from the many translations on Bible Gateway.


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NOTHING removes us from Christ’s love

What can possibly separate us from Christ’s love?
Can pain and suffering, hardships or distress,
harassment, torment, or torture,
starvation or destitution,
danger or death? No!

The Scriptures say, “For Your sake, Lord,
we’ve been destroyed. We've been thought of
as sheep to be slaughtered!”

But, now –
in all these things we are more than conquerors
through Christ Jesus Who loves us!

For I am certain that neither death nor life,
neither angels nor principalities,
neither anything going on right now
nor anything yet to come –

not soaring heights or plunging depths,
and not anything in all of creation
will ever be able to separate us
from the love of God,
which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.


Romans 8:35-38 prayer-a-phrased by Mary Sayler, © 2017, with scriptures from the many translations found on Bible Gateway.

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Jesus: The Love Offering

Here’s what real love really is –
no, not our love for God.

Real love is God
in love with us.

God the Father sent
His Son to die in our place –

to take away our sins,
our mistakes, our
wrongdoings,

to become
the one truly needed
sacrifice –

for God to forgive us –
fully,
wholly –
making amends.


Mary Sayler, © 2017, prayer-a-phrased today’s reading in 1 John 4:10 using various translations found on Bible Gateway.

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Our Old Testament God and Love

Some of us think of our Old Testament God as harsh and vengeful, but that’s not what the Hebrew writers who intimately knew God had to say. Nor is that what we will continue to think if we believe God is faultless, flawless, constant, and in no need of change.

From Genesis to Revelation, we have the same God – everlasting to everlasting. However, our perception of God does change as our understanding broadens and matures. For example, try explaining a difficult situation to a young child, who’s incapable of getting what you’re doing or why at that particular moment. Much later, the same circumstances might become clear as the maturing person understands you did what was best at the time.

God always does what’s best for us!

God’s actions may seem to be harsh or vengeful when needed to chastise, correct, and get a person (or peoples) back on the right track. Nevertheless, we can trust God’s actions to flow from an epicenter of perfect love – a love that began in the beginning as many Hebrew writers clearly showed:

“Therefore, know
the Lord your God
faithfully keeps His promises –
from generation to generation –
and clearly shows love and kindness
to those who love and obey Him,”
Deuteronomy 7:9.

“How priceless is Your persistent love, O God!
We children take cover in the shadow of Your wings,”
Psalm 36:7.

“By day, the Lord sends forth His faithful love.
By night, His song stays with me,”
Psalm 42:8.

“O Lord, I trust You with my soul!
For You are good and ready to forgive,
abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon You,”
Psalm 86:4-5

“Don’t tear your clothes! Open your heart!
Return to the Lord your God,
Who is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and abounding
in a love that will not waver,”
Joel 2:13.

“The Lord Your God lives among You –
the Mighty One Who saves!
Gladly, God rejoices over you.
His love comforts you.
God celebrates your life with song,”
Zephaniah 3:17


Scriptures prayer-a-phrased by Mary Sayler, © 2017-2019, using Bible verses from many translations found on Bible Gateway.


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Love God. Love the children of God

If we say, “I love God!”
but loathe a brother
or sister in Christ,
we’re lying!

If we have no regard
for Christians we see,
how can we love God
Who cannot be seen?

The Lord gives this clear command:
If we truly love God, we’ll truly care
about the children of God.

1 John 4:20-21 from the Verse of the Day posted by Bible Gateway and prayer-a-phrased by Mary Sayler, © 2017


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God Is Love

1 John 4:11-18

Beloved, God loves us so much,
we must love one another too.

No, we haven’t seen God,
and yet, by loving one another,
God lives in us!
And God’s love perfects ours.

How do we know we’re in God,
and God is in us?
We have His Spirit.

Furthermore, we have seen
(through God’s Word) how
the Father sent His Son
to save us and the world.

If we acknowledge Jesus
as the Son of God,
we can be sure God lives in us
and we in Him. And we can know
and believe in the power of love
God gives.

For God Is Love!

So as we remain in love,
God remains in us
and brings our love
to perfection.

Then we can know for sure
not to worry about judgment day
because we’re living as God wants.

Oh, Beloved, in love
there is nothing to fear!

God’s perfect love
frees us
from any fears we have
of being punished,
tormented, or even
harshly rebuked.

So if you’re still afraid,
pray to experience
ever more fully
the pure, pure love
of God.

© 2016, Mary Sayler prayer-a-phrased today’s reading in 1 John 4 with the help of several of the many translations found on Bible Gateway.

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Obliged to love

Romans 13:8-10

Don’t be obliged
to anyone for anything
except for being
obligated to love.

Whoever loves others
has fulfilled the law!

Consider the commandments:

Do not commit adultery with anyone.
Do not murder anyone.
Do not steal from anyone.
Do not scheme to get
what anyone else has.

See?
The commandments add up to one:

Love anyone as yourself.

Love harms no one!
Therefore, your love fulfills God’s law.


© 2015, Mary Sayler prayer-a-phrased today’s reading in Romans 13 from several of the many translations on Bible Gateway

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Christ’s love does not let us down

Romans 5:5-11

Our hope in Christ Jesus
does not disappoint us
or put us to shame
because the Holy Spirit
pours into us
the love of God!

For when we were weak and helpless
and unable to save ourselves,
Christ died for all of us – sinners all –
at just the right time.

Think of it! Few of us would be willing
to die for someone else, though, perhaps,
we might for family or friend.

But the Lord proved His amazing love for us
that, while we were way far away from God,

Christ died for us:

justifying us by His blood,
saving us from end-time wrath,
reconciling us to God by His death.

Oh, how much more
will our lives be saved by His life!

Praise God!

Through Jesus Christ our Lord
our fellowship with God, ourselves,
and one another is restored!


© 2015, Mary Sayler prayer-a-phrased today’s reading in Romans 5:5-11 from several of the many translations found on Bible Gateway

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To the young or inexperienced

1 Timothy 4:12-16

Beloved,
give no one cause to look down on you
just because you’re young or inexperienced.

Set a good example
by the way you speak, act,
and show love, faith, and
wholesome behavior.

Keep reading God’s word
before teaching
or exhorting anyone else.

And do not neglect
the God-given gift
you have received –
conferred to you
through the church.

Practice these things.

Be committed to them.

Then your spiritual growth
will be a blessing to everyone.

Take care of yourself
and what you say
in teaching others.

As you keep on doing
your work in the Lord,
you’ll receive saving grace
for yourself and all who listen.

© 2015, Mary Sayler prayer-a-phrased these words from today’s Epistle reading in 1 Timothy by drawing on a variety of translations on Bible Gateway.

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For God so loved the world

John 3:13-17

And Jesus said,
“No one has gone up to heaven
except The One
who came down from heaven:
the Son of Man.

And as Moses lifted up
the serpent in the desert,
so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
so that everyone who believes in Him
may have everlasting life.”

For God so loved the world,
He gave His only Son
so that everyone
who believes in Him
might not perish
but have eternal life.

For God did not
send His Son into the world
to condemn the world,
but that, through Him,
the world might be saved."


© 2015, Mary Sayler prayer-a-phrased these lines from today’s Gospel reading in John with the help of translations on Bible Gateway.

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Deck yourself out in love

Colossians 3:12-17

You are God’s chosen ones –
the holy elect –
dearly loved!

Now clothes yourselves
in mercy, kindness,
gentleness, and patience,
so you can bear up
under complaints
and forgive one another
as the Lord has forgiven you.

Beyond this
clothe yourself in love –
the perfect bond –

and let the peace of Christ
control your hearts.

You’re called to be
One Body in peace,
so be thankful!

Let the word of Christ live
in you richly
as you teach
and exhort one another
with wisdom,
singing Psalms and hymns
and spiritual songs
with hearts given in grace
to God.

And whatever you do –
whether in words or actions –
do all in the Name
of the Lord Jesus
with thanks to God our Father
to Whom we belong
in Christ.

© 2015, Mary Harwell Sayler prayer-a-phrased today’s reading from Colossians with help from the many translations on Bible Gateway.

Love brings home the Lord

John 14:23

Jesus answered and said,

If you love Me,
you will keep My word,
and My Father will love you.
And We will come to you,
and make Our Home
to be at home
with you.

©2015, Mary Harwell Sayler prayer-a-phrased this verse in the Gospel of John with readings from many of the translations provided on Bible Gateway.
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First Commandment: Love

Mark 12:28-31

Hearing an argument,
one of the scribes
came forward to ask,
“Then which is the first
of all commandments?”

Jesus replied,
“The first is this:
Hear, O Israel!
The LORD our God
is the only LORD,
and you shall love
the LORD your God

with all of your heart,
with all of your soul,
with all of your mind,
with all of your strength,

and the second command is this:

you shall love your neighbor
as yourself. No other
commandments are greater
than these.”

©2015, Mary Harwell Sayler prayer-a-phrased today’s reading in the Gospel of Mark by referring to several of the many translations provided by Bible Gateway.

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For the love of Christ

Prayer-a-phrase of John 15:12-17

And Jesus said to all who follow Him:

Here’s what I want you to do:
“Love one another as I love you.”

What kind of love is that?

The greatest love is when
you give your life for your friends.

You are My friends,
and you show this
by doing as I ask.

You’re not enslaved by Me!

A slave has no idea what his master is doing!
But I told you everything I’ve heard from My Father,
because you are My friends.

You didn’t choose Me first,
but I chose You,
and now I’m appointing you
to go and bear fruit for eternity!

Then, whatever you ask the Father in My Name,
He will be able to give you
as you fulfill My command:

Love one another.


©2015, Mary Harwell Sayler prayer-a-phrased this scripture in John 15 from several of the many translations found on Bible Gateway.

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