I’m having to double up the devotionals again today, and I am getting this out to you late. I can’t wait to be done with this exercise (I’ll explain soon). Since we are just one week away from Thanksgiving 2020, I wanted to share Matthew West’s super fun new song “Gobble Gobble.” Enjoy! Have a blessed evening!
November 19
19We love because he first loved us. 20Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. 21And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister. (1 John 4:19-21)
What John states here is another absolute truth: You cannot love God but hate your brother or sister. You can not love God yet support violence against unarmed criminals. You can not love God and support violent protests against people’s livelihoods. You can not love God and support kids sporting assault rifles. You can not love God and support abortion. You can not love God and support policies that harm our environment. I could keep going but I hope you get the point. We have created a very complicated system, but what is not complicated is how to love others. God has always loved us, He just does not love how we treat each other, and how we treat our planet. Love everyone and treat others better than you have ever been treated.
Reading plan: 1 John 5:13-21
Deeper reading plan: Nahum 3
Prayer and meditation: Today we thank God for everyone working in the supply chain operation. From the truckers spending countless hours on the road hauling freight, to the stock clerk that busts his back every shift to keep food available to America, and everyone in between. Pray for our country. Pray for love to conquer all. Pray for revival that is permanent and world changing.
Fitness challenge: Day 80-80 reps of the following:
- Hand-release Push-up
- Sit-up
- Jumping squat
- Leg lift
- Burpees
Distance run day: 6 miles at a nice comfortable pace.
November 18
16God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. 17This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. 18There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. (1 John 4:16-18)
What John says here is in stark contrast to the old way of religion. Where the world once said we should put the fear of God in someone to help steer them along the right path, John states that God is love. Perfect love, and perfect love drives out fear. So we should not be walking a straight path because we are afraid of being punished by God, we should be doing so because we love God and seek to make God pleased with the way we are living.
Common Sense Reborn 