IF I DON'T LIVE A LIFE OF LOVE...
50 Days of Love
Part 1 of 8
November 1-7, 2004

During the next 50 days I hope you will make an extra effort to love God and others. Jesus said we were to keep only two commands: Love God with our heart, soul, mind, and body, and second, love others as my neighbor. Take five minutes a day and recite the memory verse 5 times in the morning and 5 times in the evening; read your scripture verse each day and answer the two questions. You may want to begin a new spiritual journal to answer your daily questions on this new journey.

MEMORY VERSE FOR THE WEEK

Keep company with God and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn't love in order to get something back but to give everything of Himself to us. Love like that.

Ephesians 5:2(MES)

MONDAY

...NOTHING I SAY WILL MATTER.

If I could speak in any language in heaven or on earth but didn't love others, I would only be making meaningless noise like a loud gong or a clanging cymbal.

1 Cor. 13:1 (NLT)

  • What does I Cor. 13:1 say my life could be like.
  • How do I appear to others when I treat them unlovingly?

TUESDAY

...NOTHING I KNOW WILL MATTER.

I may have the gift of prophecy. I may understand all the secret things of God and have all knowledge. But if I do not have love, then I am nothing.

1 Cor. 13:2a (NCV)

  • Do others think I am a know-it-all? Do I sound like someone who knows everything?
  • What is the main lesson Paul is teaching me from this verse?

WEDNESDAY

...NOTHING I BELIEVE WILL MATTER.

Even if I had the gift of faith so that I could speak to a mountain and make it move, I would still be worth nothing at all without love.

1 Cor. 13:2b (LB)

  • Why does it take more than belief to please God?
  • What spiritual gift do I have and how am I presently using it with love?

THURSDAY

...NOTHING I GIVE WILL MATTER.

If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, but didn't love others, I would be of no value whatsoever.

1 Cor. 13:3a (NLT)

  • What have I given to others when I expected something in return?
  • What steps can I take to overcome my own barriers in giving?

FRIDAY

...NOTHING I ACCOMPLISH WILL MATTER.

So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love.

Cor. 13:3b (Mes)

  • Why do I put more value on my accomplishments than loving others?
  • What can I begin to do to love relationship more than accomplishment?

SATURDAY

...NOTHING I VALUE WILL MATTER.

Love means doing what God has commanded.

2 John 1:6

  • When I don't love others am I sinning?
  • What actions can I take to tune-in with God's plan for my future?

SUNDAY

...NOTHING I PLAN WILL MATTER.

God is love. If we keep on loving others, we will stay one in our hearts with God and He will stay one with us.

1 John 4:16

  • What can I do to show others I'm committed to them?
  • What does my relationship with God reveal to others?

Consider praying this prayer this week: "Dear God, I really do want to become a more loving person. I don't want to be a shallow lover. I want to be a mature loving person. I want to develop healthy, authentic relationships, so I'm willing to take these five first steps in faith. I'm going to give You the next 50 days of my life. I know it will be busy, but I want to thank You, God, in advance for all that You're going to do in my life and in my relationships during the next 50 days. I'm going to focus on what matters most. In Jesus' name.