All You Need is Love Daily Devotional -35

1 CORINTHIANS 13:7 | ⁷ Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

JOHN 19:26-27 | ²⁶ When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.” ²⁷ Then he said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.

It is our love for others, and for our communities, and for our own lives, that creates suffering! When life is lost or diminished it is painful because love knows life is precious. Yet agape love not only “creates” suffering in our broken world, it is also creative amid the tragedy.

Jesus endured the cross, which He chose out of love for us. While enduring its pain and shame, He used His love creatively. He formed a new family with His mother and His close disciple, John. He prayed for His enemies. He related to a fellow sufferer, helping him have hope beyond death. Love endures suffering not out of masochism, but because it believes God can create beautiful and redemptive things out of suffering. Suffering endured through loves’ power can shape characters, awaken faith, and demonstrate our ultimate allegiance.

Do you suffer creatively?

How does love “create” suffering? 

Tags: creative, suffer