C.A.C THE LIVING WATER DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE

Monday, July 22, 2024

BECOMING MORE LIKE CHRIST JESUS (III)

And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God’s sweet-smelling aroma (Ephesians 5:2).

John 13:34, 35

[34]. A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.

[35]. By this, all will know that you are My disciples if you have love for one another.”

As we continue to study the personality traits of Master Jesus with a view to becoming more like Him, let us look at another two distinctive traits inherited from His Father. The first is love. Jesus is the perfect example of love. No one can show the depth of true love more than our Lord Jesus Christ. He sets the example for us to love one another by what He did (Matt. 9:6-38). The love of Jesus is greater and deeper than man can fathom, as He willingly laid down His life for the whole world (1 Jn. 3:16). Our lives need to model Christ’s love (1 Jn. 2:6). A life in Christ is a life that loves others. It doesn’t matter how many years you have been following Christ; what matters is whether your character and life reflect Jesus Christ or not.

The second is forgiveness. It is the former that prompts the latter. If you truly love someone, you will quickly forgive them. To forgive someone who has hurt us or caused pain in our lives is a very difficult thing to do, but Christ Jesus sets an example for us. If there is someone who has the right not to forgive and retaliate, it should be Jesus. Yet He asked God to forgive those who had falsely accused, beaten, mocked, and nailed Him to the cross (Lk. 23:34). If Jesus could forgive those who ridiculed and humiliated Him, we have no excuse not to forgive our offenders. Forgiveness of others is not an option if we want to be Jesus’ true disciples and also be forgiven by God (Matt. 5:7; 6:12; 18:35).

1. Lord, give me the grace to love the way you love.

2. Lord, forgive me of my spirit of vengeance and give me the capacity to forgive others as you forgive.

3. Pray for the revival of love as of old in our churches.

CAC GHB: 693

S. M.

1. “Love him who’s thy neighbour.”

It is the Lord’s command.

He made himself an example.

By the way, he loved us.

2. “Love him who’s thy neighbour.”

Whether in peace or war

He taught us to love all our foes.

Repay evil with good.

3. “Love him who’s thy neighbour.”

The Lord’s voice trumpets still.

So, all of us ought to prepare.

To love all our neighbours.

4. “Love him who’s thy neighbour.”

And those living next door

Those that are in your neighbourhood

And all your enemies.

5. To love our neighbours as

Jesus Himself loved us.

Jesus loved all his enemies.

And I blessed them and prayed for them.

Amen.

Proverbs 25, 26, 27