Motivated by love

 18 Oct 25

Today's devotional: taken from YouVersion, Life Application Study Bible Devotion


Motivated by love

When we are not motivated by love, we become critical of others. We stop looking for good in them and see only their faults. Soon the unity of believers is broken. Have you talked behind someone's back? Have you focused on others' shortcomings instead of their strengths? Remind yourself of Jesus' command to love others as you love yourself. When you begin to feel critical of someone, make a list of that person's positive qualities. If there are problems that need to be addressed, it is better to confront in love than to gossip.


“For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.”Galatians‬ ‭5‬:‭14‬-‭15‬ ‭NIV‬‬

———————-

Reflections

I guess the main question to ask myself would be whether there is anyone who makes me critical of them? If there are why? Off hand I think I remembered there was someone that whenever I see him / her, I will have negative thoughts. But I can’t recall who that was 😅 but I recall a particular someone whom I too had issues with but finally found peace.


Especially before I became a Christian, there were probably too many people whom I have issues with. Like I don’t like them for whatever they do or say. I had grudges with them for whatever they had done to me, there was so many wrongs in the people that I find it hard to find reconciliation and peace, until I met Jesus. 


I was telling my friend, knowing Christ is very liberating. I feel free! There was freedom in a lot of things but especially the heart and mind. No longer were those people allowed to run free in my head because I made peace with them. In situations where it is impossible to talk to them to be reconciled, I did it with the Lord. That I tell the Lord I forgive them for the whatever wrongs they did to me, for the whatever bondage I may have with them, I release them all to the Lord. Have never felt so free and peaceful.


I think as humans, we do have the tendency to gossip or be critical of someone. But let’s also be more mindful or aware of our thoughts so that we can hold our thoughts captive and pray as well. May the Lord grant us wisdom to change and fill us with good thoughts. Things that are true, noble, right, pure, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy, Father fill us with such things. 

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