Daily Readings at Southeast

  Don’t Give up on Lasting Love “Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.”  1 Corinthians 13:7 (NLT) Lasting love is persistent. It is determined, diligent, and resolute. It endures the worst and is stubborn in its insistence to not give up on a relationship. In fact, the purpose of a relationship is not just to make you happy but also to make you holy and teach you how to think of others more than you think of yourself. When I got married, my wife and I discovered that we were complete opposites. We started arguing on our wedding night, and from there it just got worse. We loved each other, but we did not get along. But we had made a vow, and we decided divorce was not an option. We got counseling, even though we were broke. We sacrificed so that we could honor our commitment to each other. We struggled for the first two years of our marriage, but we’re better for it today. Learning to love is the single greatest lesso...

  Believe in Others Like Jesus Believes in You “If you love someone, you will be loyal to him no matter what the cost. You will always believe in him, always expect the best of him, and always stand your ground in defending him .” 1 Corinthians 13:7 (TLB) Jesus believes in you. There’s plenty of proof in the Bible!  “Everything is possible for one who believes”  (Mark 9:23 NIV). Jesus believes you can do anything because when you place your trust in him, he can do anything through you. He also wants you to help other believers understand this about themselves. Each day you encounter people with low self-esteem. We all have insecurities. And many people are repeatedly playing a tape in their minds of what someone said to them long ago—that they wouldn’t amount to anything. How can people reverse that curse? You can help them start believing what Jesus says about them instead of believing what other people say. One of the best ways we do this in the church is by being part ...

  The Heart Behind Confrontation “Why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? . . . First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.”  Matthew 7:3, 5 (NLT) As you learn to love like Jesus, you must confront the problems in your relationships that keep you from closeness with other people. You have to face the issues that scare you to death—and you have to learn how to do it in love. Did you know that we tend to criticize in other people the very thing we don’t like in ourselves? If you tend to be prideful, you can pick out ego in a second. If you tend to be lazy, you notice laziness in others. Before you confront anybody in a spirit of love, make sure you’re not also doing the thing you’re criticizing. The Bible says,  “Why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? . . . First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enoug...

  Forgiven People Forgive Others “Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.”  Colossians 3:13 (NLT) Many people think God carries grudges. They think he’s up in heaven, waiting to condemn them for anything they do wrong. Here’s what God is really like:  “I am the God who forgives your sins, and I do this because of who I am. I will not hold your sins against you”  (Isaiah 43:25 GNT). Even before the world was made, God had a plan that through Christ, you would have a way to have your sins forgiven and a home in heaven. He knows every wrong thing you’ve ever done and every wrong thing you’re ever going to do. None of it surprises him! That’s why Paul could say this:  “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”  (Romans 8:1 NIV). Condemnation is gone because of what Jesus Christ did for us—that means unconditional and complete forgiven...

  Treat Every Person as God’s Masterpiece “Treat everyone you meet with dignity.”  1 Peter 2:17 (MSG) You are infinitely valuable to God. He created you. Jesus died for you. God puts his Spirit within you. And God wants you to be with him forever in eternity. That’s quite an investment he has made in you! There are two things that make something valuable. The first is who made it. “We are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago”  (Ephesians 2:10 NLT). Before you were born, God planned out your purpose and who he wanted you to be. He does not make mistakes. The value of something is also determined by what someone will pay for it. How much is your house worth? It’s worth whatever someone will offer. How much is a piece of art worth? Only what somebody’s willing to pay for it. If you ever doubt your worth, just look at the cross. Jesus was willing to pay the ultimate price for you. He paid for you wi...