13 July, 2024
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. – 1 Corinthians 13:6
Loving God, Whose wisdom and understanding is unparalleled, help us to contemplate and practice Your Holy Word, as we turn our hearts and minds to the wisdom contained therein. Lord, help us to recognize that true love, the love that You embody and call us to share, cannot coexist with evil. It does not find pleasure in wrongdoing or in the suffering of others. Instead, it seeks the good, the noble, and the righteous.
Guide us, Lord, to be vigilant in our own lives, ensuring that our actions, words, and thoughts are free from malice and harm. Let us never be tempted to take joy in the failings or misfortunes of others, but instead, cultivate a heart that mourns with those who mourn and rejoices with those who rejoice. We ask for Your strength to always seek and celebrate the truth. In a world often filled with deceit and falsehood, it can be challenging to discern what is true and good. Yet, Your love calls us to a commitment to honesty and integrity.
Teach us to embrace the truth, even when it is difficult or uncomfortable, knowing that it is through truth that we find freedom and peace. May our lives reflect Your perfect love, a love that is patient and kind, that does not envy or boast, that is not proud or rude, that is not self-seeking or easily angered. Let our love be a testament to Your presence within us, always protecting, always trusting, always hoping, and always persevering. Lord, help us to be beacons of Your love in our communities, helping in transforming our lives and the lives of those around us, in Jesus’ Name. Amen
