Daily Reflections From God's Word

Tag: Love

  • When Gentleness Is Strength

    The world teaches us to shout. Social media rewards sarcasm. Boardrooms reward dominance. Even in the Church, we sometimes applaud power over humility. But here’s a truth I’ve carried since I was a teen—a quote clipped from an old newspaper:

    “In a time when everything is thought to be had by intimidation, gentleness still has amazing strength. It has never been wise to underestimate the person who has compassion and understanding and the gift of showing it.

    Hard talk is not a sign of superior ability, but it does show a weakness in character. The need to put someone else down in hopes of looking good reveals a deficient personality.

    Few can resist the power of communication, the gentle friendliness of making everyone feel they are a part of the rank and order. Teamwork has always been about mutual respect, a show of confidence, and a willingness to help. If we lose the gentle touch, we lose control, and little else counts from that point on.”

    The Bible backs that up. Gentleness isn’t weakness—it’s one of the nine traits that prove the Holy Spirit is working in our lives:

    “But the fruit of the Spirit is… kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” (Galatians 5:22–23, NKJV)

    It’s not optional. It’s evidence.

    A second line from that quote drives it home:

    “Hard talk is not a sign of superior ability, but it does show a weakness in character.”

    There’s a reason Scripture tells us:

    “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” (Proverbs 15:1, NKJV)

    Gentleness is the secret ingredient that holds marriages together, creates harmony in ministry teams, and cultivates respect in leadership. When it’s missing, trust breaks. Communication dies. Influence shrinks.

    Jesus modeled it perfectly. In Matthew 11:29, He invites us to learn from Him:

    “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (NKJV)

    If the Son of God could walk in gentleness while carrying all authority in heaven and earth—what’s our excuse?

    Ask Yourself Today:

    • Do I speak to win arguments or to build people up?
    • When I’m leading, am I inviting or intimidating?
    • Where can I choose kindness over control?

    Prayer:
    Lord, grow in me the strength to be gentle. Let Your Spirit bear that fruit in my life—in how I speak, how I lead, and how I love. Amen.

  • The Bargain and the Broken Box

    On Holy Wednesday, two people made two very different decisions—one sold the Savior, and the other poured everything out at His feet.

    It began with a cold exchange. Judas Iscariot went to the chief priests—not the other way around.

    “What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?” (Matthew 26:15).

    There’s no emotion in the text.

    Just calculation.

    He didn’t plead or wrestle.

    He named the price of betrayal and took the deal.

    Thirty pieces of silver.

    The cost of a slave.

    That’s what they believed Jesus was worth.

    That’s what Judas accepted.

    We can almost picture the smirk on Caiaphas’ face, the scribes nodding in approval, the money counted out and dropped into Judas’ hand with a metallic clink.

    Done deal.

    The Son of God sold for pocket change.

    No prayer.

    No hesitation.

    Just a transaction.

    A soul for sale.

    But while Judas was closing his bargain, a broken woman was stepping into a Pharisee’s house to pour out her heart.

    The setting couldn’t have been more different. Jesus was dining at the home of Simon the Pharisee when a woman walked in carrying an alabaster flask of fragrant oil. Luke 7 describes her only as “a sinner.” Her name isn’t mentioned here, but many believe this was Mary Magdalene—a woman who knew what it meant to be shunned, whispered about, and cast aside.

    She didn’t ask to speak.

    She didn’t make a scene.

    She just knelt behind Jesus and wept.

    Tears poured from her soul before any oil left the jar.

    She wiped His feet with her hair.

    She kissed them.

    Then she broke open the alabaster box and anointed Him with perfume that would’ve cost nearly a year’s wages.

    CeCe Winans captures the moment in the song “Alabaster Box”:

    “I can’t forget the way life used to be, I was a prisoner to the sin that had me bound…But I’ve come to pour My praise on Him like oil, From my alabaster box.”

    While Simon judged her silently, Jesus told a parable: two debtors, one owing much and the other little. Both were forgiven. “Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?” (Luke 7:42). Simon answered, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.”

    And Jesus said, “You have rightly judged.” Then turning to the woman, He said, “Her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.” (v. 47)

    Both Judas and Mary encountered Jesus face to face.

    Both had the chance to respond to who He truly was.

    One chose betrayal.

    One chose brokenness.

    One calculated what Jesus was worth.

    The other couldn’t put a price on what He had done for her.

    And today, we stand in that same tension.

    Will we grow so familiar with Jesus that we start measuring His worth in silver? Or will we fall at His feet in worship, tears, and surrender?

    Holy Wednesday reminds us: It’s not how far you’ve fallen—it’s how deeply you realize you’ve been forgiven.

    Let’s not hold back. Let’s break the box.

    Prayer: Lord, don’t let my love grow cold. Break through my pride and self-reliance. Remind me of the mercy that found me. Teach me to pour out my worship freely and to never withhold what You deserve. In Jesus’ name, amen.

  • The Power of Love and Truth – A Holy Tuesday Reflection

    “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.” – Matthew 24:35 (NKJV)

    Holy Tuesday wasn’t quiet. It wasn’t a day of rest. It was a day of boldness.

    Jesus, fully aware of the betrayal, suffering, and death ahead, walked into the temple and taught.

    He didn’t cower.

    He didn’t shut down.

    He didn’t say, “It’s too much.”

    Instead, He lovingly confronted error, poured truth into His disciples, and taught parables that pierced the heart (Matthew 21–25). He knew His time was short. But instead of focusing on Himself, He focused on us.

    That’s what amazes me.

    He called out religious pride and hypocrisy—not to condemn, but to call people to repentance. He answered the Pharisees’ traps with wisdom. He urged His followers to live ready and faithful, not caught off guard by the world’s distractions.

    He didn’t back down because He loved too deeply to stay silent.

    So many of us go quiet when the pressure turns up. We pull back when trials come. But Jesus? He leaned in.

    That’s the challenge of Holy Tuesday—will we show up like Jesus did?

    Will we speak truth even when it’s hard?

    Will we love enough to confront sin, warn of judgment, and remind people of the hope we have in Him?

    Even under pressure, Jesus taught with grace and authority. Even knowing the cross was near, He stayed faithful.

    So today, let’s reflect:Am I hiding my faith in tough seasons?

    Do I speak truth in love, or stay silent to keep the peace?

    What would it look like to boldly follow Jesus when it costs something?

    Let His example lead us.

    Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for loving us enough to teach—even when You were walking toward suffering. Help us to be bold like You, filled with truth and love. Strengthen us to speak when it’s easier to stay silent. Let Your Word anchor us, no matter what storms may come. Amen.

  • The Hound of Heaven vs. The Hounds of Hell

    I first heard a sermon over 45 years ago titled “The Hounds of Hell.” Bro. Bass, a hunter, described how his trained dogs would track their prey relentlessly—up mountains, through valleys, across rivers—never stopping until their target was cornered, exhausted, and alone. He compared it to how Satan and his demons track us, waiting for us to stumble.

    1 Peter 5:8 (NKJV) warns us: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” The enemy is relentless. He will chase us through every twist and turn, pressing in until we feel trapped with no escape.

    But yesterday morning, I was reminded of a different pursuit—one not of destruction, but of love.

    I pulled a book from my shelf titled A Gentle Thunder and saw the title of chapter two: “The Hound of Heaven: The God Who Pursues.”

    Francis Thompson’s poem describes God as “that tremendous Lover, pursuing me with His love.” Unlike the enemy, who seeks to destroy, Jesus pursues with grace, patience, and mercy.

    Revelation 3:20 (NKJV) says, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.”

    Satan’s hounds chase to wear you down.
    But Jesus stands at the door, waiting for you to open it.

    He doesn’t force His way in. He doesn’t demand entry. He simply knocks.

    Maybe today, you feel exhausted—like you’re running from something you can’t escape. The enemy has been on your trail, whispering lies, making you feel trapped.

    But hear this: Jesus is pursuing you, too. Not with pressure, but with love. Not with force, but with grace.

    He stands at the door.
    He knocks.
    He waits.

    The question is—will you let Him in?

  • God is in the Details

    Matthew 10:29-31 NKJV – Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

    In the hustle and bustle of our lives, it’s easy to overlook the intricate details that make up each day. We often focus on the major events, the milestones, and the overwhelming challenges, while the smaller moments fade into the background. Yet, as the song “God is in the Details” reminds us, it is precisely in these minute particulars that we often find the profound presence of God.

    Matthew 10:29-31 beautifully encapsulates this idea. Jesus reassures us that not even a sparrow falls to the ground without the Father’s knowledge and care. If God is so intimately involved in the lives of the sparrows, how much more does He care for us? This scripture emphasizes that our lives — down to the very hairs on our heads — are fully in His hands. It is a powerful reminder that the divine is not limited to monumental occurrences but is also present in the minutiae of our daily existence.

    Take a moment to reflect on the details that fill your day. Consider the sunrise that illuminates the morning sky, the laughter shared with loved ones, or the unexpected kindness of a stranger. These moments, though seemingly small, demonstrate God’s creative hand at work. They serve as reminders that every breath we take, every heartbeat, carries the imprint of His love and intention.

    In our fast-paced world, it is easy to become desensitized to these details. We race from task to task, often forgetting to pause and acknowledge the blessings present in each moment. This brings us to the call of Psalm 46:10: *“Be still, and know that I am God.”* In stillness, we are invited to notice how God weaves His presence throughout our lives. It is in our quiet reflections that we can discern His fingerprints on the tapestry of our daily experiences.

    Moreover, recognizing that God is in the details encourages us to cultivate an attitude of gratitude. When we begin to notice and appreciate the little things — a gentle breeze, a word of affirmation, or an answered prayer — we foster a deeper connection with our Creator. Our hearts become attuned to His presence and our trust in His divine plan strengthens. In moments of uncertainty or doubt, it is often these simple reminders that reassure us of His unwavering care and love.

    As you go through your week, challenge yourself to look for God in the details. Observe the ordinary and find the extraordinary in it. Let your eyes be opened to the miracles that occur every day, wrapped in the simplest forms. Keep a journal, recording moments where you felt His presence in the mundane.

    Remember, “God is in the details.” He is present not only in the significant moments of life but also in the minutiae that comprise our daily journeys. As we recognize His involvement in our lives and express gratitude for the small things, we discover that our faith deepens, and our lives are enriched by His constant love.