February 14 ~

Owe no man any thing, but to love one another ... love is the fulfilling of the law ... Above all hold unfailing your love for one another ... whoever disobeys -- is unbelieving toward, refuses to trust in, disregards, is not subject to -- the Son will never see (experience) life. But instead the wrath of God abides on him ... You are not your own ... You were bought for a price ... made His own ...
Rom.13:8,10 (KJV); 1 Pet.4:8 (RSV); Jn.3:36 (Amp); 1 Cor.6:19,20 (Amp)

Then I must love? Not should, but must love all?
My neighbors? Enemies? My angry mate?
In spite of what they say and do, my call
is to compassion’s view? Sin I can hate,
but I must love the sinner? This command
leaves me with no escape, no liberty
to scorn, to not forgive, to slander, brand,
to be annoyed, impatient, to put "me,"
my "rights," above Love’s call! ’Tis death of self!
No bitterness? No enmity? Divorce?
Love must come first, transcending all things else?
Impossible! My unlove’s dreadful force
rules me. What? Even so, I must obey?
Then love through me, Lord. I can't. Be my Way!

... He became the Author and Source of eternal salvation to all those who give heed and obey Him ... "You are My friends, if you do what I command you ... This I command you, that you love one another" ... He that loveth not, knoweth not God; for God is love ... "And this is eternal life, that they know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent ... And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him ... "Abide in Me, and I in you ... he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing" ... the fruit of the Spirit is love ... I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me ... put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh ... "I hate divorce," says the LORD God ... Love never fails ... if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing ...
Heb.5:9 (Amp); Jn.15:14,17 (NAS); 1 Jn.4:8 (KJV); Jn.17:3 (RSV); 1 Jn.2:4 (KJV); Jn.15:4,5 (NAS); Gal.5:22 (KJV); Phil.4:13 (KJV); Rom.13:14 (KJV); Mal.2:16 (NIV); 1 Cor.13:8,2 (NIV).

* See also the September 22 and September 23 Devotions.

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