How to Show Love to a Demanding or Selfish Person

In review of 1 Corinthians 13:7 it says, “Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance” (NLT).

Today’s verse is from 1 Corinthians 13:7 where Paul reminds me that  Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres.

Society confuses love and lust. Unlike lust, God's kind of love is directed outward toward others, not inward toward myself. It is utterly unselfish. This kind of love goes against my natural inclinations. It is impossible to have this love unless God helps me to set aside my own natural desires so that I can love and not expect anything in return. This, the more I become like Christ, the more love I will show to others.

Love like this can be absolutely exhausting. Don’t let anyone fool you. The kind of love that really makes a difference in this world will zap everything out of you.

Sometimes I may not feel like I have any more love to give. I think, “I just can’t face another need, another problem, or another heartache.” So I shut down. Or I need to show love to a particular person who is demanding, acts selfishly, and never returns my love. And I think, “I’m done. No more.”

While that’s a perfectly natural and entirely human response, it’s not the standard of love God calls me to in the Bible. Today’s verse reminds me that, “Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance” (1 Corinthians 13:7 NLT). Love never gives up.

In order to have this kind of persistent love for another person, I need to get refueled.

To give the kind of persistent love that God wants me to give, I have to refuel my love tank. Look around at society, and I’ll see it’s littered with debris from relationships that have crashed and burned because people didn’t refuel their love.

How do I refuel my love tank? I start by letting God love me. “We love because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19 NIV). When I’m worn out, tired, and unable to imagine showing love to anyone else, remember that God loved me so much that he sent his Son to die for me.

Just last night one of my small group members put together a time of remembrance for what Christ did for us on the cross and with his resurrection. He did this though our own form of the Lord’s supper and watching clips from the “Passion” which provided a visual representation of what Christ endured for us in his trial, beatings and crucifixion. When we see it visually represented it’s more powerful than just reading it. It’s also a way for me to look back at what he endured to show his love to me and to bring me back to the Father, something that I would never be able to do myself.

Now that’s real fuel. It’s what should keep me going when I want to quit.

Bottom Line:

Love never gives up or loses faith, it is always hopeful

What this means to me:

To love someone, I'll need to be loyal, no matter what the cost. I will always believe in them, always expect the best of them, and always stand my ground in defending them.

In summary, Love is always protective, trusting, hopeful and it always perseveres. Unlike human love (lust), God's kind of love is directed outward toward others and not inward toward myself. It is utterly unselfish. It is impossible to have this kind of love unless God helps me set aside my own desires so that I can love without any expectation of anything in return. Love of this type never gives up. In order for me to have this kind of persistent love for others, I need to get refueled. So how do I refuel? By letting God love me. Remembering that God loved me so much that he sent his son to take my punishment and die for me.

Today Father, I pray that I can relax in your love knowing how much you care for me, and letting it refuel me so that I can display your kind of love to others. I also pray for your wisdom and guidance in handling this list of things I need to do for work, in how to organize the work to help manage the team's activities, how I provide leadership to them and how I interact with others. I pray this through your Son who sacrificed greatly to bring me into a relationship with you.

I Love Because God Loves Me

In review of 1 John 4:19 it says, “We love because he first loved us” (NIV).

Today’s verse is from the last part of 1 John 4. Simply it states, we love because God first loved us.

What I’ve learned is that God's love is the source of all human love, and it spreads like fire. In loving me, It should kindle a flame in my heart. In turn, I can love others, and become warmed by God's love through me.

One reason God wants me to love is because he is love, and he created me to be like him, to love. The only reason I’m able to love is because God loves me: “Love comes from God . . . because God is love” (1 John 4:7-8 NIV).

I was created in God’s image to do two things on Earth: First to learn to love God and secondly to learn to love others. God intended my life to be all about love.

But love all started with God. He loved me first, and that gives me the ability to love others (1 John 4:19). The only reason I can love God or love anybody else is because God first loved me. He showed that love by creating me. He showed that love by everything I have in life; it’s all a gift of God’s love. And he showed that love by sending Jesus Christ to Earth to die for me.

In order to love others well, I first need to understand and experience how much God loves me. I shouldn’t just want to talk about love, read about love, or discuss love; I need to encounter the love of God.

I need to reach a place when I truly understand how God loves me completely and unconditionally. I need to become secure in the truth that I cannot make God stop loving me.

Once I’m secure inside God’s unconditional love, I’ll start cutting people a lot more slack. I won’t be as angry as I’ve been. I’ll be more patient, more forgiving, and more merciful. I’ll give others grace.

Today I need to remind myself how much God loves me, and let him heal my heart so that his love can flow freely through me. It’s impossible to love others until I really feel loved myself.

Bottom Line:

We love because he first loved us.

What this means to me:

My love for him and for others comes as a result of his loving me first.

In summary, I love because God first loved me. God's love is the source of all love. His love for me should kindle my heart and in turn I can love others. I was created to do two things, learn to love God and to learn to love others. God intended my life to be all about love.

God wants me to refuel my love when I feel empty by spending time with him and his Word. It’s a reminder to me that he cares so much and wants to use me to show love, compassion and help to others. This morning Father, I thank you for this reminder. I ask that you help shape my perspective in what I do to be loving and of a help / assistance to others. I also pray for your wisdom and guidance in how I organize and complete the tasks in front of me, how I lead my team and how I interact with others. This I pray through your Son Jesus name, amen!

Remind Myself Of What And How God Thinks of Me

In review of Isaiah 54:10 it says, “The mountains and hills may crumble, but my love for you will never end” (GNT).

Today’s verse is Isaiah 54:10. In it I read, “For the mountains may move and the hills disappear, but even then my faithful love for you will remain. My covenant of blessing will never be broken,” says the Lord, who has mercy on me.”

God had made a covenant with Noah in the past that he has never broken. Likewise, God made a covenant of peace with the people of Israel that the time would come when he would stop pouring out his anger on them; he would restore their wealth, and would personally teach their children and he will do the same for me.

If I’m not feeling loved by God, I’m going to have a hard time offering love to anybody else. It is impossible to be loving unless I understand and remember the way God loves me.

I need to remind myself every day what God thinks about me, not what the world thinks or what I think about myself. But remembering God’s love is what removes my fears.

I’m reminded of four things God thinks about me that will help me remember why and how to love.

First, I’m completely accepted. I spend a lot of time trying to earn acceptance from peers, those I respect, those I envy, and even total strangers. But I need to realize God has already settled this issue of acceptance: “Jesus . . . made me acceptable to God” (Titus 3:7 CEV). What Jesus did on the cross made me completely acceptable to God, no matter what I’ve done or will do.

Second, I’m unconditionally loved. God doesn’t say, “I love you if . . .” or “ I love you because . . .” He says, “I love you—period!” I can’t make God stop loving me, because his love is not based on what I do but on who he is. Isaiah 54:10 says, “The mountains and hills may crumble, but my love for you will never end” (GNT).

Third, I’m totally forgiven. Because Jesus died on the cross and gave his life as a payment for my sins, I’m totally forgiven when I accepted the gift of forgiveness from God. Romans 8:1 says, “There is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus” (NLT). God doesn’t rehearse my sins. He releases them.

Lastly, I’m considered extremely valuable. There are two things that create value: who the owner is and what somebody’s willing to pay for it.

I’m a child of God and “have been bought and paid for by Christ” (1 Corinthians 7:23 TLB). Jesus Christ paid for me with his life. That’s how valuable I am.

When I remember that I’m accepted, loved, forgiven, and valuable to the Creator of the universe, I’ll be better equipped to show that love to others and build deeper relationships.

Bottom Line:

For the mountains may depart and the hills disappear, but my kindness shall not leave you. My promise of peace for you will never be broken, says the Lord who has mercy upon us.

What this means to me:

The mountains may move and the hills may disappear, but even then God's faithful love for me will remain. His covenant of blessing will never be broken,” he has mercy on me.

In summary, God's faithful love for me will always remain. His covenant of blessing will never be broken. If I'm not feeling loved, I'll have a hard time offering love to others. I need to remind myself every day what God truly things of me. First I need to keep in mind that I'm completely accepted because Jesus made me acceptable. Secondly I'm unconditionally loved. He says that he loves me period. His love is not based on what I do, but on who he is. Thirdly I'm totally forgive, because Jesus died on the cross and give his life as a payment for my sins. Lastly I'm considered extremely valuable because of who he is and what he was willing to pay for me. He paid for me by Christ. That how valuable I am. When I remember that I'm accepted, loved, forgiven and valuable to my creator, then I'll be better equipped to show that love to others

This morning I thank you Father for your love for me, your blessings. These are not things that I have done or could ever do. They are based on you and your unfailing love for me. I pray this morning for your wisdom and guidance in what I do, how I lead and how I interact with those around me. I pray these things through your Son Jesus name, amen!

Learning to Stand Strong on God’s Extravagant Love

In review of 1 John 4:9–10 it says, “God showed how much he loved us by sending his only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love . . . he sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins” (NLT).

Today’s passages come from 1 John 4:7-10 where John is talking about loving one another. He tells me, dear friend, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love. God showed how much he loves me by sending his one and only Son into the world so that I might have eternal life through him. This is real love, not that I loved God, but that he love me and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away my sin.

Love is usually thought of as a feeling. In reality, love is a choice and an action, as God shows. God is the source of our love. He loved me enough to sacrifice his Son. Jesus is my example of what it means to love; everything he did in life and death was supremely loving. The Holy Spirit gives me the power to love; he lives in my heart and make me more and more like Christ. God's love always involves a choice and an action. and my love should be like his. How well do I display my love for God in the choices I make and the actions I take?

John tells me that "God is love," not "love is God." This world, with its shallow and selfish view of love, has turned these words around and contaminated the understanding of love. The world thinks that love is what makes person feel good and that it is all right to sacrifice moral principles and others' rights in order to obtain such "love." But that isn't real love; it is the exact opposite, selfishness. And God is not that kind of "love." Real love is like God, who is holy, just, and perfect. If I truly know God, I will love as he does.

Love explains: (1) why God creates, because he loves, he created people to love; (2) why God cares, because he loves them, he cares for sinful people; (3) why we are free to choose, God wants a loving response from me; (4) why Christ died, his love for me caused him to offer a solution to the problem of sin, and (5) why I receive eternal life, God's love expresses itself to me forever.

Nothing sinful or evil can exist in God's presence. He is absolute goodness. He cannot overlook, condone, or excuse sin as if it never happened. He loves me, but his love does not make him morally lax. If I trust in Christ, however, I will not have to bear the penalty for my sins. I will be acquitted by his atoning sacrifice.

Everything in life changes; relationships, jobs, fame. One minute I feel like a hero; the next minute I feel like a zero. But there’s one thing in the universe that will never change: God’s love.

Knowing that God still loves me no matter what happens; my failures, brokenness, sin, all provides a rock solid foundation in my life.

Consider the small word “so” that goes before “love” in the Bible’s most famous verse, John 3:16. The verse says, “God so loved the world . . . " (NIV).

God loves me with an extravagant, lavish love that can never be taken away. It’s beyond comprehension. He loves me on my good days and my bad days. He loves me when it’s raining and when the sun is shining.

God says he doesn’t want me to just recognize this lavish love intellectually. He wants me to recognize it emotionally. Love is God’s nature. God created the universe and everything in it for no other reason than so he could love it. And God created me so he could love me.

In fact, in Jesus, God shows me what real love, his love, looks like. “God showed how much he loved us by sending his only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love . . . he sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins” (1 John 4:9–10 NLT).

Many people say they love me. God showed me how much he loves me. He loved me so much it hurt. He sacrificed his Son. When Jesus died for me, he was saying he loved me so much he’d rather die than live without me.

And the Bible says that’s what real love, the kind of love that I can build my life upon, looks like. Real love makes sacrifices. Real love endures to the end. Real love gives all.

That’s the kind of love only God has for me. And he’s waiting with open arms to show me.

Bottom Line:

God loved by sending His Son to save us by paying our penalty, wiping our slates clean.

What this means to me:

God loves me so much that He sent his Son into the world to teach me and so that I might have eternal life through him. This is real love, not that I love Him, but that he sent his Son as a sacrifice to pay the penalty for me and take away my sins.

In summary, I am to love others for real love comes from God. When I love like this, I'm showing I'm a child of God. God showed how much he loves me by sending his one and only Son into to world to that I might have eternal life through him. This is real love, not that I love God, but that he loved and sacrificed me. Love on my part is a choice and an action. My actions in love should be like this. And the Holy Spirit will give me the power to do this, for he lives in me and is making me more like Christ each day. Finally while everything in life changes, there's one thing that won't, and that’s God's incredible love for me.

Father this morning “I first thank you for your incredible love for me. I pray that through the Holy Spirit that you help remind me make love as part of the actions I take today and really show love and even sacrifice when needed to demonstrate my love. I also ask that you help me organize priorities before me and to lead the team to accomplish them. I pray that you help me respond rightly to those I interact with. In Jesus name I pray, Amen!”