ARE YOU MAKING ANY IMPORTANT RESOLUTIONS FOR THE NEW YEAR?

BIBLE PASSAGE:
Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
(1 John 4:8)

MEDITATION:
Are you someone who makes resolutions each January that only
last a few weeks? Some resolutions are valuable, but some are just
for the sake of making one. Some resolutions affect only you, but
some have an impact on others. This year, why not make a resolution
that will confirm to others that you belong to the Lord? Make a
resolution that you intend to keep for the entire year.

The resolution to consider is not one with specific details, but rather
one that involves an overall change in attitude, habits, actions and
words.
Consider this:
    Every Christian should be identifiable by their capacity to love.
    Love describes Jesus, and as a follower of His, it should describe
    us as well.

A person filed with love has more confidence, a more well-balanced life,
an ability to encourage others, a happier outlook on life, and a better
understanding of the importance of putting others ahead of themselves.
In contrast, a person without love is more susceptible to anger, emotional
illnesses, addictions, loneliness, feelings of unworthiness, fear of others,
lack of confidence, envy and jealousy. Not only does a loving person confirm
his or her faith, but love benefits the person’s health and overall attitude
as well.

Paul tells the Corinthians (and us)
that a lot of things are ineffective if love is missing.
    If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not
    have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging
    cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom
    all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith
    that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am
    nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over
    my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have
    love, I gain nothing. (1 Corinthians 13:1-3)

He also gives us some indicators of the presence of love.
    Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it
    does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor
    others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered,
    it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight
    in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects,
    always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love
    never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will
    cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled;
    where there is knowledge, it will pass away.
    (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)

And finally, Paul reminds us
of the importance of love in the hearts of believers.
    And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.
    But the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:13)

ACTION:
Won’t you obey God and love others in addition to loving God?
Take the challenge and know that it doesn’t happen just by
saying it; you have to make a conscious effort every day to become
a loving person. Jesus showed the ultimate expression of love when
He went to the cross as an innocent person so that you could receive
eternal life.

Pray,
“Jesus, thank You for loving me enough to die for me.
Heavenly Father, help me to love others as Jesus loves
me. You know the areas where I need to make adjustments
in my life, so I ask You to encourage me to make the
necessary changes in order to become a loving person
who has a sincere consideration of others in everything
I say and do.”

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