Daily Devotional - Persistent Prayer - Week 36 - Day 244 - Month of Prayer Day 1 - 9/1/25 - "Love Above All"

Author: Evangelist Jamie Hoffman

“Love Above All”
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:1-3, NIV
 
“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.”

Devotion:
In John 13:34-35, Jesus took the time to command His disciples to love each other. He didn’t stop there. He also told them to love each other the way He loved them. In addition, He told them that their love for others would show that they were His disciples. A command is an authoritative order. Why would Jesus have to order them to love? If we love God the way we say we do, shouldn't loving others be easy for us? I believe Jesus knew that wrapped in this flesh we would struggle with treating our brothers and sisters right. We would struggle with unforgiveness, being easily offended, and respecting each other's differences. Jesus wanted their love and our love to be the way His sacrificial love is, unconditional and complete.

Today’s Scripture lets us know we can have all kinds of gifts, talents, and abilities, but if we don’t have love in our hearts, we are nothing. What’s love got to do with it? EVERYTHING! I don’t know about you, but I’m so glad that Jesus’ sacrificial love for me redeemed me back to God and saved my sin-sick soul. My constant prayer is that I reflect that love so that someone else can receive the gift of salvation.

Prayer:
Lord, help us! Help us love like You love. Help us reflect Your love in all that we say and do and be a living example for someone else to receive the gift of salvation. Amen.