february big5 devotional pdfs…romans 5:8 john 10:17-18, luke 22:42-44 jesus was obedient to...

BIGBIG WISDOM IN 5 MINUTES

February is the season of pink hearts, chocolate and roses. So why [AD1] is Valentine’s Day soappealing? It’s because we all long to love and be loved. For anyone looking for love, today’sverses should feel like a warm embrace[AM2] . They also sum up the gospel: God loves usso much that He gave everything to save us from sin and to live with us forever. As you ponder these familiar verses, what stands out to you today? How do these verses comfort,inspire or convict you?

WEEK ONE: God's Love Saves

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DAY ONEREAD

REFLECT

DAY TWO

READ and Review

REFLECT

John 3:16-17

REVIEW: John 3:16-17; READ: Matthew 3:16-17

God loved His Son with a profound, inexpressible depth. Any parent understands how impossiblethis love is to fully comprehend or quantify. Yet God gave His Son over to suffering and death inorder to fulfill His perfect justice--all for us. What does this sacrifice reveal about God’s love for you?


God is love! It is His very nature. And He demonstrates that love by saving us through Jesus.Notice that Jesus died for us while we were still sinners. This fact highlights God’s deep love. Hesacrificed His own beloved Son for people who were still rejecting Him and choosing sin instead! God loved us before we could even begin to love Him back. How does this encourage you?

WEEK ONE: God's Love Saves


DAY THREEREAD

REFLECT

DAY FOURREVIEW

REFLECT

Romans 5:8

John 10:17-18, Luke 22:42-44

Jesus was obedient to God’s plan for saving all of humanity, but that doesn’t mean it was easy forHim. God the Father loves us so deeply, and so does God the Son! He willingly suffered and losteverything for you and for me. When was the last time you thanked Jesus for His sacrifice, and how is He calling you toremember it today? How can you bring Him glory and honor for the salvation He gave you?


God made an everlasting covenant with Abraham to establish his descendants as the people ofGod. This loving promise was kept by God throughout the tumultuous history that followed, and itextends to believers today through Jesus Christ. What do you learn about God from the promises He made to Abraham? What does it mean to youpersonally to be a child of God?

WEEK TWO: God's Love Endures


DAY ONEREAD

REFLECT

DAY TWOREAD

REFLECT

Genesis 17:1-7, 1 John 3:1

Deuteronomy 7:9, Psalm 100

God’s faithful love for us spans generations, extending from the beginning of time to its ultimateend. It endures forever! Remembering all that He has done should inspire us with awe andgratitude. How can you thank God today, whether in prayer, worship or action?


PGod’s faithfulness inspires obedience. Some people cringe at the very word obedience, butobedience to Jesus brings great freedom and blessing. In what areas of your life is it challenging to obey God? How can you invite our loving God intothose areas?

WEEK TWO: God's Love Endures


DAY THREEREVIEW

REFLECT

DAY FOURREAD

REFLECT

REVIEW: Genesis 17:1; READ: John 14:23-24

Romans 8:37-39

From the creation of humanity to this moment, God has loved you. There is nothing in all creationthat can remove His love from you; nothing that can separate you from Christ’s presence. This is apromise, one proven by Christ’s death on the cross. What does it mean to you that Jesus’ love for you does not depend on your own actions or howyou might feel at a particular moment?


God’s love is complete. There is not a place on Earth, a time in history, a victory so amazing or adespair so deep that is untouched by God’s love. Paul’s prayer for you is that you will stay rootedin this love, be aware of it and experience it for yourself. Even though God’s love is beyondanything we can fully understand, we can see it and enjoy it in our lives. How have you personally experienced God’s great, unfathomable love? What circumstances orsituations would you like to invite God’s love into today?

WEEK THREE: God's Love Provides


DAY ONEREAD

REFLECT

DAY TWOREAD

REFLECT

Ephesians 3:17-19

1 Corinthians 13:1-13

God’s love never fails. Last week we saw that it endures throughout all time, and this passageshows us that His love also endures through any circumstance. In addition, it can direct our pathin difficult circumstances, like those that call for patience, kindness, forgiveness or mercy. Whenwe allow God’s love to direct our actions toward others, we too cannot fail. How does this eternal promise bring you comfort in your current circumstances? How do theseverses inspire you to react to others with God’s love?


God’s love comforts and calms us. These encouraging words from the prophet Zephaniah comeafter he warned of great judgment for sin, but then predicted that, out of His great love, Godwould preserve a remnant of His people. God calls us to remember His great love and allow it todirect us in worship and obedience so that He can preserve us. Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still andknow that I am God.” How can you “be still” before God today and allow His love to comfort you? What struggles areyou trying to fix in your own power? Will you invite God into those strugglestoday?

WEEK THREE: God's Love Provides


DAY THREEREAD

REFLECT

DAY FOURREVIEW

REFLECT

Zephaniah 3:17

Luke 15:11-32

God’s love forgives. In this story of the lost son, the father’s reaction is one of love, while theolder brother reacts out of his wounded sense of justice. The father’s unbridled love for his sonmakes forgiveness possible. Similarly, God’s unbridled love for us and for His Son Jesus allowsHim to forgive any sin. Do you react to others more from a place of love or of justice? What benefits have you receivedfrom freely forgiving others, and is there anyone or anything you need to forgive today?


God loves us dearly and wants us all to be saved from sin and turn toward Him. Our first responseis to turn to Jesus in faith, accepting that gift of salvation. Doing so unites us with Him. Our nextresponse is to become united with God’s people by loving others. What does loving others look like in your life? How is God calling you to share His love withsomeone else? How is He calling you to love even those who might be difficult to love?

WEEK FOUR: God's Love Unites


DAY ONEREAD

REFLECT

DAY TWOREAD

REFLECT

Matthew 22:34-40, 1 John 4:7-21

Luke 10:25-37

Jesus told this parable to demonstrate what love toward a neighbor looks like. It reveals thatlove is not just an emotion. Love is primarily a decision about how to treat other people, and thisprinciple is not limited to people who “deserve” it nor people who are easy to love. The expert inthe law asked Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus’ answer broke down all kinds of culturalbarriers. What do you learn from His teaching? Who is your neighbor, and to whom can you extend mercytoday?


How well we love each other is a direct reflection of how well we follow Jesus. Jesus walked thepath of love for us and commands us to love each other. He even said that this is the wayoutsiders will recognize that we truly follow Him. This means we have to set aside disagreements,differences and our own desires in order to love each other. Do your actions toward others set you apart as a disciple of Jesus? Jesus sacrificed His life out ofHis great love for us. What are you sacrificing to love others well?

WEEK FOUR: God's Love Unites


DAY THREEREAD

REFLECT

DAY FOURREAD

REFLECT

John 13:34-35

John 17:20-26

Did you know that Jesus prayed for you? His beautiful prayer to the Father on your behalfemphasizes that Jesus longs for unity among His people--a unity that reflects the onenessbetween God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. In verses 22 and 23, what doesJesus say the world will learn from seeing believers unite? In today’s divided culture, how can you work for unity so that God’s love can be displayed in yourlife?

february big5 devotional pdfs…romans 5:8 john 10:17-18, luke 22:42-44 jesus was obedient to...

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