What will you do this day for the love of God? I imagine this phrase “For the love of God” may be heard in vastly different ways. How do you read this phrase? What is the invitation from God for you? I offer two possibilities for prayer and action.
That little word of may have differing meanings in this context. Does this wording inspire God’s love within you for others? This reading encourages our actions for self and others to be initiated by God’s love. When read in this manner it could move us to compassion for those that struggle, have less, or are hurting either physically, mentally, or emotionally. Perhaps “For the love of God” expresses your intimate whole-hearted love for God. This devotional rendering of “For the love of God” conveys our heart’s deep love aimed at God. Maybe the phrase is intentionally open so that our love may incorporate both by God and for God.
The Scripture
Our Scripture for today reminds me of the summer after my first year of college. That was the summer that I worked as a camp counselor. Each week during the summer we (the staff) welcomed a new group of campers. Most of the time we were the only counselors who worked with the group of children or teens. However, there was one week that a group brought their own counselors, and the camp staff just assisted the youth group leaders.
That was when one of the group’s counselors taught me to play a new song. I no longer remember the tune or guitar chords, but the words remain etched on my heart. The final line of the song was “Frist John 4 verses 7 and 8.” The remainder on the short songs quotes verses seven and eight!
Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.
Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love.
(NRSV I John 4:7-8)
Today’s Prayer Practice
As we begin our prayer experience for this day, I invite you to read the entire section from I John 4:7-21. It may be found here. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=I+John+4%3A7-21&version=NRSV. Read the text through four times. On the first reading simply familiarize yourself with the passage of Scripture. After this reading pause for any clarifying questions of the test you may have. Then begin prayer the Scripture.
After each additional reading, give yourself at least a five-minute time of silent reflection on the questions presented.
- What word or phrase directly from the text catches your heart? Once you discern that word or phrase, repeat in lightly in your mind for the remainder of the five-minute silent reflection.
- After reading the text for anther time consider, How does this Scripture intersect or impact your daily living? Hold your response in silence before God for your remaining time of silent reflection.
- The final question for your Scripture prayer is, What invitation do you hear from God to you from this Scripture? It could be an invitation to do something or to be something. For example, an invitation may be to love children by volunteering at the local school. Or the invitation from God may be to have more compassion for self or others.
- When you discern your invitation from God through the Scripture, offer a prayer of blessing that you may live into the invitation that you heard.
Enjoy praying.
