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Team Daily Devotions for February 2025
316Judith
Posts: 9,917 Member
The Four Loves: Agape—Our Love for God
FEBRUARY 1, 2025
We love Him because He first loved us. 1 John 4:19
Bible Reading:
1John 4:7-12
The New Testament was originally penned in Greek, and there are four different Greek words translated love.
The word agape represents the essence of divine love—God’s own special love.
It’s the love God has for us and the kind of love He gives us for Himself and others.
Osborne Gordon, a nineteenth-century British pastor, said, “There is no soul so pure and heavenly that it can throw back upon God all that love which He lavishes upon us.
God loves us infinitely more than it is possible for us to love Him; but whatever feeble flame of love is kindled in our hearts and goes up as a sacrifice to Him, we are only giving Him of His own.”
That’s a good description of agape.
The greatest command within Scripture is to love the Lord our God with all our heart, mind, and soul (Matthew 22:37).
It’s the Lord Himself who gives us the agape that allows us to do that.
Let His love set your heart on fire, and return it like sparks flying upward to Him.
Our love of [God] is nothing more than His love to us, reflected back upon Him, the source of love. Osborne Gordon
FEBRUARY 1, 2025
We love Him because He first loved us. 1 John 4:19
Bible Reading:
1John 4:7-12
The New Testament was originally penned in Greek, and there are four different Greek words translated love.
The word agape represents the essence of divine love—God’s own special love.
It’s the love God has for us and the kind of love He gives us for Himself and others.
Osborne Gordon, a nineteenth-century British pastor, said, “There is no soul so pure and heavenly that it can throw back upon God all that love which He lavishes upon us.
God loves us infinitely more than it is possible for us to love Him; but whatever feeble flame of love is kindled in our hearts and goes up as a sacrifice to Him, we are only giving Him of His own.”
That’s a good description of agape.
The greatest command within Scripture is to love the Lord our God with all our heart, mind, and soul (Matthew 22:37).
It’s the Lord Himself who gives us the agape that allows us to do that.
Let His love set your heart on fire, and return it like sparks flying upward to Him.
Our love of [God] is nothing more than His love to us, reflected back upon Him, the source of love. Osborne Gordon
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Replies
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When we home schooled our children, the name of our school was "Agape Christian School". Our curriculum was based on the Bible and God's love for us.2
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Linda. That is what our old church who has a Christian school uses. Plus some there may home school and use that material too.1
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February 2
Wisdom from the Psalms
Psalms 14:2
The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.
"It won't do you any good. All that talk about God is just a crutch. Do your best, live for the day, then lay down and die."
Tim listened to his friend rave on and on, but he never did challenge him. In some ways, he agreed with his friend. Sometimes Jesus was a crutch, but after all, lame people need a crutch.
Tim felt like he'd been limping through his entire life before he found Christ. He also believed that God wanted him to do his best and live for the day, but he knew there was more to it than that.
Even if all his friends told him that God was a lie, he wouldn't believe it. God was real, and no one could convince him otherwise.
Arguments against the existence of God can sound good, but they amount to nothing more than opinion in the face of fact. We walk by faith, not by sight.
God is looking for faith-walkers. If we will follow what we know to be true with our hearts, instead of what we can be convinced of in our minds, then God will lead us and sustain us in all that we do.
Prayer: Be with me, Lord. All around me are
people who attack my faith. Dwell in my heart, and let me feel the reality of Your presence within. Amen.2 -
Monday, February 3
God Wants You Happy!
O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man who trusts in You! Psalm 84:12
A cynic once defined Christians as people who live in fear of someone, somewhere, being happy. That is, the cynic had the impression that God wants to make life burdensome and difficult. A person who believes that has never read the Bible. Thirteen times in the Old Testament we find the phrase, “Blessed is the man who.”
Bible Reading:
Psalm 84:5-12
What does blessed mean in Scripture? In modern English translations it is often translated as “happy” or “joyful.”
In other words, God wants us to be happy and joyful in life and gives us instructions on how to achieve that goal.
We are blessed when we walk in God’s ways (Psalm 1:1), when we trust in God (Psalm 84:12), when our sins are forgiven (Psalm 32:2), when we dwell in God’s presence (Psalm 65:4), when we rely on God’s strength (Psalm 84:5), and more.
God would not have provided ways for us to be happy and joyful if He did not intend for us to be so.
Meditate on these and other verses which promise blessedness. It is there for the receiving for all who seek it God’s way.
Seek for happiness and you will never find it.
Seek righteousness and you will discover you are happy. D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones1 -
Tuesday, February 4
Pursuing Happiness
Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content.
Philippians 4:11
“All men...are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” These famous words from the American Declaration of Independence have been criticized by some who say that Americans believe it is their right to be happy.
Bible Reading:
Luke 22:41-42
In modern terms, happiness usually refers to laughter—an emotional response to life’s circumstances. It is worth noting that there is no reference in the four Gospels to Jesus laughing (though He undoubtedly did when appropriate).
Far more prevalent in Scripture is the notion of joy and the idea of contentment. Contentment is the idea of finding joy in the will of God whatever the circumstance.
Jesus didn’t laugh in the Garden of Gethsemane as He contemplated His future death, but He was content with God’s will for Him at that moment.
True joy and contentment are found in the Person of Christ. Our pursuit of happiness must lead us to joy and contentment in Him.
If you are not content with what you have, you would not be satisfied if it were doubled. Charles Spurgeon2 -
Wednesday, February 5
Our Spiritual Need
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:3
In 2023 a Florida deputy was accused of street racing because, as it turned out, he wanted to impress his girlfriend. People get into a lot of trouble trying to impress others. We’re all guilty to some extent, aren’t we? It’s our pride!
Bible Reading:
Luke 6:20-23
Jesus had a better idea. He blessed those who were poor in spirit. He said, “Great blessings belong to those who know they are spiritually in need. God’s kingdom belongs to them” (Matthew 5:3, ERV).
When the Lord spoke of being poor in spirit, He meant the opposite of everything that’s summed up in the word pride. Those who are poor in spirit have a proper assessment of who they are without Christ. As the International Children’s Bible puts it: “Those people who know they have great spiritual needs are happy.”
When we recognize we are spiritually bankrupt, we’ll understand the wonder of God’s love for us through Christ. We cannot impress anyone, not even ourselves. But Jesus loves us nonetheless, and through Him alone we find the Kingdom of heaven.
The indispensable condition of receiving the kingdom of God is to acknowledge our spiritual poverty. To the poor in spirit, and only to the poor in spirit, the kingdom of God is given. John Stott1 -
Thursday, February 6
Humble Service
Serving the Lord with all humility.
Acts 20:19
Billy Graham said, “In Heaven there will be many believers who never received any acknowledgement while on earth, yet they faithfully prayed and humbly served Christ. I believe their crowns may sparkle with more jewels than the philanthropist who endowed the church and whose name is engraved on the plaque in the narthex.”1
Bible Reading:
Acts 20:19-21
When we realize we are spiritually poor, we’re able to come to Christ in a spirit of humility and receive the riches of His grace. That disposition of heart leads to effective service. Some people serve Christ to impress others, and they “preach Christ even from envy and strife” (Philippians 1:15). But those who are humble of heart are able to serve the Lord in a way He truly blesses. Peter said, “Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility” (1 Peter 5:5).
Are you poor in spirit? One of the ways you can tell is by evaluating your daily service for Christ. Let’s all rededicate ourselves to serving the Lord with all humility.
May our gratitude find expression in our prayers and our service for others, and in our commitment to live wholly for Christ. Billy Graham1 -
Friday, February 7
Missing the Mark
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Matthew 5:4
Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the greatest soccer players in the world. Last year at Euro 2024, he missed a penalty shot. He felt he’d let his team and fans down.
The great athlete’s face twisted into pain, and he couldn’t keep from weeping. His tears dominated the headlines the next day.
Bible Reading:
Psalm 51:7-13
If an athlete can weep over a missed shot, shouldn’t we be able to weep over our sins?
There are a few occasions in life when we can’t help but cry when we see the mistake we made, the sin we committed, or the harm we did.
Matthew 5:4 says, in the Amplified Bible, “Blessed [forgiven, refreshed by God’s grace] are those who mourn [over their sins and repent], for they will be comforted [when the burden of sin is lifted].”
The closer we come to the Lord, the more sensitive we become to sin in our life. We know we are bankrupt without the Lord, and we mourn our sin. The Lord not only forgives us; He also comforts us.
Spiritual mourning is the godly sorrow that produces repentance, and it is blessed because it leads to life. The more you have of this kind of mourning in your life, the more blessed you will be. Colin S. Smith1 -
FEBRUARY 8, 2025
The Four Loves: Philia—Our Love for Others
All who are with me greet you. Greet those who love us in the faith. Titus 3:15
Bible Reading:
Revelation 3:7-13
In the early 1680s, William Penn made a treaty of friendship with a Native American chieftain named Tamanend.
Penn built a port city on the Delaware River to serve as a governmental center. He knew the word philia meant “friendship,” so he named his city Philadelphia—City of Brotherly Love.
Penn had experienced persecution, and he wanted to build a city where people loved and respected each other.
Every city, town, church, marriage, and home should have the spirit of philia.
In Christ, your husband is also your brother; your wife is also your sister.
The Bible says that within the faith we should be “gentle, not quarrelsome” with each other (1 Timothy 3:3).
The apostle Paul said, “And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all” (2 Timothy 2:24).
In Titus 3:15, Paul spoke of those who loved (philia) him in the faith.
Ask God to give you philia, and let’s love each other as friends in the faith of our Heavenly Father.
In a good marriage the husband and wife are also friends. Friendship means companionship, communication, and cooperation.
This is known as philia. H. Norman Wright1 -
Wisdom from the Psalms
February 9
Psalms 17:5
Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not.
Burt had worked in high-rise construction all his life. Every day he would walk the girders high above the ground with apparent ease.
In his lifetime he had seen a number of men plunge from the girders due to a mere moment of carelessness. As for himself, he knew he had been lucky.
Each morning he began work only after saying a short prayer, asking the Lord to watch his movements through the day, keeping him safe from any mishap.
Though most of us never do anything as dangerous or risky as high-rise construction, we do stand in danger of falling to temptation.
A fall like that is as devastating to the soul as a plunge from a high girder would be to our physical being. No matter how careful we try to be, we need someone to catch us when we stumble.
God is that someone. He waits with open arms to catch His children when they fall.
Rest easy in the knowledge that God guides your steps.
He will protect those who put their trust in Him.
Prayer: I need Your guiding love, Almighty God. Without it, I am sure to fall. Thank You for being with me picking me up when I fall. Amen.2 -
Monday, February 10
Promise of Comfort
If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14
On March 30, 1863, when the United States was being torn by the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln called on Americans to “confess their sins and transgressions in humble sorrow, yet with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardon.” Lincoln assured the people that the “cry of the nation will be heard on high and answered with blessings.”
Bible Reading:
2 Corinthians 7:9-10
The President didn’t quote Matthew 5:4 in his proclamation, but his words were consistent with Jesus’ teaching in the Beatitudes that those who mourn will be comforted. Mourning over what?
Jesus no doubt had Israel’s national sins in mind as well as those who mourn over their personal sins.
And the comfort of which He spoke surely included forgiveness and restoration.
The Old Testament promised forgiveness and comfort at both levels—nationally (2 Chronicles 7:14) and personally (Isaiah 1:18).
And the apostle Paul wrote about the results of godly sorrow over sin (2 Corinthians 7:9-10).
If you are mourning today over sin at any level, take heart. God promises to comfort all who mourn with godly sorrow.
Earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal. Thomas V. Moore1 -
Tuesday, February 11
Meekness Is Not Weakness
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Matthew 5:5
Caspar Milquetoast was a cartoon character created in 1924 by the comic strip writer H. T. Webster. The character was named after a bland food called milk toast which was eaten by people with weak stomachs. Caspar was portrayed as timid and ineffectual in his dealings with others. Since then, milquetoast has described a timid, insipid, bland, or feeble person.
Bible Reading:
Psalm 37:7-11
Sadly, but understandably, the word meek came to be associated with weakness and timidity. This wasn’t helped by the King James Version’s translation of Numbers 12:3:
“Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.”
Moses was anything but weak and timid, and all modern translations of that verse use the word “humble” instead of “meek” to describe Moses.
Humility is a positive trait of strength, not weakness. Humility means fearing the Lord and accepting His will for one’s life. Thus, Jesus praised the meek in the true sense of the word—those who live in submission to God and are blessed.
Meekness is not weakness; it takes spiritual strength to obey and serve God. And the blessing is to inherit His coming Kingdom on earth and for eternity.
Meekness is the mark of a man who has been mastered by God. Geoffrey B. Wilson2 -
Wednesday, February 12
Being Teachable
Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. James 1:21
Prior to his encounter with Jesus Christ, no one would have mistaken Saul of Tarsus, who became the apostle Paul, for a meek or humble person.
His focus in life was his personal advancement as a Pharisee in Judaism (Philippians 3:4-6).
He was not teachable; his heart and mind were closed to the Gospel.
Bible Reading:
Psalm 119:17-19
Nicodemus was also a Pharisee, a “ruler of the Jews” (John 3:1), but he had a teachable heart.
He met with Jesus at night to try to understand who Jesus was.
He was not too proud to ask questions and consider that perhaps his understanding was limited.
In fact, he accompanied Joseph of Arimathea to bury Jesus after the crucifixion (John 19:38-42).
One of the marks of humility (meekness) is a teachable spirit, a willingness to learn from God and from others who know Him well.
The psalmist prayed, “Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from Your law” (Psalm 119:18).
A good way to practice meekness before the Lord is to pray that prayer when you open God’s Word.
Ask Him to show you more of Himself and how to conform your life to His will.
Meekness is having a teachable spirit. Ronald Dunn1 -
Friday, February 14
Healthiest Food on Earth
Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; for I am called by Your name, O Lord God of hosts. Jeremiah 15:16
Researchers at William Paterson University in New Jersey examined 41 types of healthy fruits and vegetables and came up with what they called “the healthiest food in the world.” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention agreed. It’s watercress.1 Who would have thought?
Bible Reading
Hebrews 5:11-14
There’s no question about the healthiest food for the mind. It’s the manna of God’s Word. For the prophet Jeremiah, it was survival food. He said, “When I discovered your words, I devoured them. They are my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies” (Jeremiah 15:16, NLT).
Spiritual hunger is a requirement for growth. That hunger spurs us on to discipleship and walking with God. We need the constant intake of Scripture for our inner nutrition.
Ask the Lord today to ignite that hunger within you; then find God’s words and devour them.
They will strengthen you with joy and rejoicing.
The Bible is like food for the inner person. It is milk (1 Peter 2:2), solid food (Hebrews 5:11-14), bread (Matthew 4:4), and honey (Psalm 19:9-10). Warren Wiersbe0 -
February 15
Wisdom from the Psalms
Psalms 18:33
He maketh my feet like hinds' feet, and setteth me upon my high places.
Her grace and beauty was breathtaking. The doe paused for a moment, then she sprang forth in a poetic dance of joy. Effortlessly, she scaled the rocky incline, never missing her footing, until she stood out against the autumn sky. Her gentle eyes scanned the horizon, she sniffed delicately, shook her head once, and then was off.
God has equipped His creation with many wonderful and amazing qualities. The doe who can climb steep mountains with nary a misstep, the jaguar that can outrun any prey and turn sharply at its fastest pace, the eagle who can span vast distances in a matter of hours; all these creatures are strong because they use their God-given talents as they were intended to.
There is a lesson to learn from such creatures. We, too, have been given many wonderful gifts and talents. When we affirm the talents we have been given, then God will surely bless us, and we will be a sign to others of His goodness. God has given us hinds' feet, wings to fly, power, grace, an d a multitude of other gifts. Embrace them and know that the Lord is good.
Prayer: Teach me to use the gifts I have been given. Aid me as I test my wings and struggle to get my footing. Be patient with me, Lord, and touch me with Your touch of peace and grace. Amen.0 -
Living Doesn't Mean Fighting -
Wisdom from the Psalms, February 16, 2025
Psalms 18:34
He teached my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by my arms.
Angela was the youngest of six children. Her memories and childhood conjured images of constant fighting and competition.
She had learned very early how to fight. Her young years had been a painful lesson in the survival of the fittest.
It was only after she left home that she found out that living didn't mean fighting.
She met and married a strong Christian man whose strength came not from any physical source, but from a keep and abiding faith in the Lord.
He taught her patience and compassion and peace. Her world was turned upside down as she realized that true strength came not from fighting, but from refusing to fight. God granted her a power greater than any she'd known.
By her peace of mind and spirit, Angela broke free from the bondage of her past and faced the future with the assurance that nothing could ever defeat her again.
Prayer: Lord, remove from me my spirit of competition in trying to be better than other people. Whenever my will says to fight back in anger, let my spirit prevail with a desire to forgive. Make me strong in Your love. Amen.1 -
Monday, February 17
Mercy Given, Mercy Received
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Matthew 5:7
The phrase “an eye for an eye” is often heard in cultural conversation where retaliation is being justified.
The phrase is biblical, being found in Exodus 21:22-25—but its purpose was not to justify retaliation but to limit it. In other words, punishment was to be limited to what was appropriate in light of the damages incurred.
But in Jesus’ day, the Exodus standard was being used to justify retaliation instead of forgiveness.
Bible Reading:
Matthew 6:14-15
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus raised the standard when it comes to responding to those who have injured us.
Instead of retaliating with vengeance, Jesus said we should forgive those who have harmed us.
Yes, wrongdoing deserves a response. But Scripture teaches that we are to leave judgment to God and our response should be one of mercy and forgiveness (Romans 12:19-20).
The best way to think about mercy is the withholding of punishment that is deserved.
Jesus said the merciful will be blessed by receiving mercy themselves.
Look for an opportunity to show mercy toward someone who may not deserve it—the same mercy that God has shown toward us by forgiving our sins.
I have always found that mercy bears richer fruits than strict justice. Abraham Lincoln0 -
Tuesday, February 18
Illustrating Mercy
And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:32
The book of Proverbs is filled with comparisons using like or as (a simile). For example, “Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control” (Proverbs 25:28, NIV).
A lack of self-control is compared to a city with broken-down walls. Instead of saying, “Practice self-control,” the image of the city illustrates the danger of the lack of self-control.
Bible Reading:
Matthew 5:43-48
The apostle Paul used a simile to illustrate how we are to forgive and show mercy toward others:
We are to forgive others “even as” God has forgiven us through Christ.
God’s forgiveness of us is an example of His mercy.
We were deserving of judgment for our sins, but God withheld our judgment and judged Christ instead by His death on the Cross.
That is what mercy does—it withholds judgment, punishment, or retaliation even when it is deserved.
To show mercy is also to forgive.
And we are to forgive others the way God has forgiven us in Christ.
The next time someone hurts or offends you, consider the mercy God has shown you and extend that same mercy and forgiveness.
No one is redeemed except through unmerited mercy. Augustine0
