1 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:03,480 Speaker 1: Life Audio. 2 00:00:10,760 --> 00:00:13,560 Speaker 2: Welcome to the Crosswalk devotional. We're glad to have you 3 00:00:13,640 --> 00:00:18,560 Speaker 2: listening with us. Today's topic is love one Another. We'll 4 00:00:18,600 --> 00:00:33,840 Speaker 2: return with the devotional after a brief message from our sponsors. 5 00:00:35,040 --> 00:00:39,120 Speaker 2: Love one Another, written and read by Meg and j Connor. 6 00:00:40,320 --> 00:00:43,519 Speaker 2: Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers a 7 00:00:43,600 --> 00:00:50,120 Speaker 2: multitude of sins one Peter four eight NIV. Relationships of 8 00:00:50,159 --> 00:00:53,360 Speaker 2: all kinds can be a challenge. The Bible says God 9 00:00:53,400 --> 00:00:57,920 Speaker 2: created us for community, for family, for friendships, Yet often 10 00:00:57,960 --> 00:01:01,520 Speaker 2: the dynamics involved in these connections can be incredibly complicated. 11 00:01:02,760 --> 00:01:05,640 Speaker 2: If relationships are the design of the Lord for our lives, 12 00:01:05,680 --> 00:01:09,080 Speaker 2: why do they seem so incredibly difficult to navigate? The 13 00:01:09,160 --> 00:01:14,560 Speaker 2: answer one single word sin. At the root of all 14 00:01:14,640 --> 00:01:17,920 Speaker 2: sin is selfishness. It is the desire and longing for 15 00:01:18,000 --> 00:01:21,720 Speaker 2: what I want above all else, and often those decisions 16 00:01:21,720 --> 00:01:24,720 Speaker 2: can be harmful to those around us. They can also 17 00:01:24,720 --> 00:01:28,600 Speaker 2: be harmful to our relationship with our heavenly Father. All 18 00:01:28,640 --> 00:01:30,440 Speaker 2: the way back in the garden of Eden, we see 19 00:01:30,440 --> 00:01:34,560 Speaker 2: the first choice of sin of selfishness, when the woman 20 00:01:34,640 --> 00:01:36,480 Speaker 2: saw that the fruit of the tree was good for 21 00:01:36,520 --> 00:01:39,600 Speaker 2: food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for 22 00:01:39,680 --> 00:01:42,320 Speaker 2: gaining wisdom. She took some of it and ate it. 23 00:01:42,840 --> 00:01:45,399 Speaker 2: She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, 24 00:01:45,520 --> 00:01:49,000 Speaker 2: and he ate it Genesis three six and I me. 25 00:01:50,600 --> 00:01:53,400 Speaker 2: Though God clearly said Adam and Eve were not to 26 00:01:53,440 --> 00:01:55,400 Speaker 2: eat the fruit from the tree in the middle of 27 00:01:55,440 --> 00:01:59,320 Speaker 2: the garden, they felt otherwise. The couple desired to take 28 00:01:59,360 --> 00:02:02,320 Speaker 2: what the Lord is advise them to abstain from. They 29 00:02:02,360 --> 00:02:06,880 Speaker 2: intentionally chose their own way. They chose self, but their 30 00:02:06,960 --> 00:02:10,600 Speaker 2: choices didn't just affect them individually. They affected their relationship 31 00:02:10,600 --> 00:02:13,440 Speaker 2: with one another. As soon as their decision was revealed, 32 00:02:13,760 --> 00:02:18,520 Speaker 2: the first marital argument ensued, including everyone's favorite, the blame game. 33 00:02:19,600 --> 00:02:25,200 Speaker 2: Their unity was negatively impacted as a result of their choices. Additionally, 34 00:02:25,320 --> 00:02:28,080 Speaker 2: their relationship with the Lord was also altered by their 35 00:02:28,120 --> 00:02:32,240 Speaker 2: pursuit of self. Those consequences were much more significant than 36 00:02:32,240 --> 00:02:35,040 Speaker 2: a marital tif as they were cast out of the garden, 37 00:02:35,440 --> 00:02:38,120 Speaker 2: could no longer reside within the physical presence of God, 38 00:02:38,520 --> 00:02:41,919 Speaker 2: would later experience mortal death, and the legacy of sin 39 00:02:42,000 --> 00:02:46,760 Speaker 2: they initiated would pass on from generation to generation. Sin 40 00:02:47,000 --> 00:02:50,600 Speaker 2: and selfishness caused some major long term rebels in the scenario, 41 00:02:51,200 --> 00:02:53,480 Speaker 2: but thankfully that is not the end of their story 42 00:02:53,639 --> 00:02:58,720 Speaker 2: or ours. Love covered a multitude of sins. The heavenly 43 00:02:58,760 --> 00:03:00,880 Speaker 2: Father made provision for us Adam and Eve in the 44 00:03:00,919 --> 00:03:03,760 Speaker 2: form of a sacrifice to cover their sin, and then 45 00:03:03,840 --> 00:03:06,799 Speaker 2: gave the ultimate sacrifice of his one and only son 46 00:03:06,880 --> 00:03:09,919 Speaker 2: to forever redeem us all from the penalty of transgression. 47 00:03:10,800 --> 00:03:13,840 Speaker 2: It is because of this great love that was offered 48 00:03:13,880 --> 00:03:17,560 Speaker 2: to us first while we were still sinners Romans five eighth. 49 00:03:17,880 --> 00:03:21,239 Speaker 2: Though we are called to love one another through the failings, disagreements, 50 00:03:21,280 --> 00:03:25,360 Speaker 2: and hurt feelings, it can feel so incredibly unfair when 51 00:03:25,400 --> 00:03:28,480 Speaker 2: we are called to forgive the wrongdoings of others. But 52 00:03:28,560 --> 00:03:30,800 Speaker 2: how different it looks when we are the offender in 53 00:03:30,880 --> 00:03:34,600 Speaker 2: need of pardon. While every situation is different and there 54 00:03:34,639 --> 00:03:38,320 Speaker 2: are circumstances where forgiveness needs to be applied, but not 55 00:03:38,440 --> 00:03:42,720 Speaker 2: necessarily reconciliation, at that moment, God's call to us is clear, 56 00:03:43,800 --> 00:03:46,640 Speaker 2: if possible, as far as it depends on you live 57 00:03:46,720 --> 00:03:51,960 Speaker 2: at peace with everyone Romans twelve eighteen and IV. Though 58 00:03:52,000 --> 00:03:55,120 Speaker 2: our emotions get stirred up when iron sharpens iron in 59 00:03:55,160 --> 00:03:59,360 Speaker 2: our relationships, and there are disagreements and deepherts, the Lord 60 00:03:59,360 --> 00:04:02,720 Speaker 2: has called us to love one another. It is amazing 61 00:04:02,800 --> 00:04:06,160 Speaker 2: how quickly a heated situation is diffused when love and 62 00:04:06,240 --> 00:04:10,440 Speaker 2: humility are applied. May we follow in Jesus's footsteps and 63 00:04:10,520 --> 00:04:12,960 Speaker 2: extend mercy and grace to those who have wronged us? 64 00:04:13,520 --> 00:04:18,839 Speaker 2: For love covers a multitude of sin, intercepting faith and life. 65 00:04:19,880 --> 00:04:23,560 Speaker 2: Are you struggling with disagreements or discord within your relationships? 66 00:04:24,160 --> 00:04:27,760 Speaker 2: Is there a particular person or scenario that is particularly painful. 67 00:04:28,560 --> 00:04:31,080 Speaker 2: Perhaps you are the offender in this situation and long 68 00:04:31,160 --> 00:04:34,839 Speaker 2: for forgiveness from those who have harmed. Regardless of where 69 00:04:34,880 --> 00:04:38,080 Speaker 2: you find yourself, May I encourage you, maybe even challenge you, 70 00:04:38,480 --> 00:04:41,120 Speaker 2: to take a moment and reflect on how God's unending 71 00:04:41,200 --> 00:04:45,640 Speaker 2: mercy and grace have been applied to your life. Ask yourself, 72 00:04:46,080 --> 00:04:49,680 Speaker 2: how has He covered a multitude of your sin? If 73 00:04:49,680 --> 00:04:51,720 Speaker 2: you are willing, jot down a list of the moments 74 00:04:51,720 --> 00:04:54,200 Speaker 2: when it was evident the Lord extended forgiveness to you 75 00:04:55,279 --> 00:04:57,839 Speaker 2: in light of his great love. Ask the Lord to 76 00:04:57,880 --> 00:05:00,920 Speaker 2: soften your heart towards those who have harmed you. I 77 00:05:01,000 --> 00:05:03,680 Speaker 2: pray you follow in his footsteps and learn how to 78 00:05:03,760 --> 00:05:06,840 Speaker 2: lead with love. For further reading, take a look at 79 00:05:06,880 --> 00:05:10,480 Speaker 2: Romans chapter twelve, verses nine through twenty one and Romans 80 00:05:10,560 --> 00:05:12,599 Speaker 2: Chapter five, verses one through eleven. 81 00:05:16,960 --> 00:05:19,960 Speaker 1: Thanks for listening to today's devotional. If you liked what 82 00:05:20,000 --> 00:05:22,000 Speaker 1: you heard today, we want to make sure you know 83 00:05:22,120 --> 00:05:26,080 Speaker 1: about our sister podcast, Your Daily Prayer. When you follow 84 00:05:26,120 --> 00:05:29,479 Speaker 1: your Daily Prayer in your favorite podcast app, you'll get 85 00:05:29,480 --> 00:05:32,560 Speaker 1: a brand new prayer and devotional each day, so your 86 00:05:32,640 --> 00:05:36,240 Speaker 1: days begin in conversation with God. 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