The Upper Room 9th December 2021 Daily Devotional | Wednesday Message
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Loving First
Carola Spreacker (New Mexico, USA)
TODAY’S READING
1 John 4:19-21
KEY VERSE: We love because God first loved us. – 1 John 4:19 (CEB)
The Upper Room 9th December 2021 Daily Devotional Message:
Our hearts were broken. A few months earlier, we had lost our beloved dog. One day my husband and I felt it was time to visit the local animal shelter and look for a pet who might fill the hole in our hearts. And we found him! He was in a small cage with his head down and his tail between his legs. We thought, He needs us and we need him! Now, only weeks after bringing him home, he runs to greet us, holds his tail up high, chases his ball nonstop, and is the happiest dog.
If the love my husband and I gave to that little dog can completely change him in such a wonderful way, how much more can the love of God change all of us? First John 4:19 says, “We love because God first loved us.” And because God loved us first, we are able to do things that we couldn’t possibly do otherwise. We can replace anger with forgiveness, we can replace prejudice with acceptance, and we can work toward peace in our families, neighborhoods, and the world. We can love!
TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear God, help us not to wait for others to show love to us, but give us courage to love them first. Amen.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Today I will look for opportunities to surprise others with acts of love.
PRAYER FOCUS
Someone who needs my love
