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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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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