2 minute read.
Daily Reading: 1 Kings 2-3 GW; 1 Corinthians 5 GW
Obey God, find success.
God’s idea of success isn’t ours. When you reach eternity, God will not ask you what your job title was or how much money you made. God already knows. He provided them for you. What God will want to talk about is how well you loved people.
Obeying God’s directions, laws, commands, and rules are summed up in these two verses:
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:30-31 NIV)
Jesus gave us our life purpose in these 40 words found in Mark. Love God, love others. Success in life isn’t what you have; it’s how well you love. Every day, God allows us to love Him and others better than we did yesterday.
Focus on the future.
Following Jesus means you’re in the process of transformation. You are becoming a new creation in Christ every day. Since Jesus wants us to become better lovers of people, each day is an opportunity to strengthen our love muscles.
“The way you see your future determines your thinking today. You’re thinking today determines your performance today. Your performance in the today of your life determines your future.” Zig Ziglar
If you want to become more like Jesus, you must change your thinking. Determine each day to love the people in your life better than you did yesterday. One day at a time, you become a better lover of God and people. After a lifetime of loving people for Jesus, imagine entering the pearly gates and hearing these words:
“’Well done, good and faithful servant!” (Matthew 25:21 NIV)
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Lord, thank You for Your faithfulness to us, even as we are unfaithful. Forgive us for defining success differently than You. Help us adjust our thinking to become more in line with Yours. As we move through our days, give us eyes to see the people You want us to love. Let us start in our homes with our families, loving them best. Each day, help us become more loving towards others as we let Your Spirit guide us. IJNIP. Amen
Question for reflection
Who is God calling you to love today?
