THE GREATER LOVE | Daily Bread | 9-27-2024

00:00 - Intro
00:34 - Bible Passage
04:07 - Daily Bread Devotional
05:54 - Prayer

2 Samuel 13:1-22, KV 15
“Then Amnon hated her with intense hatred. In fact, he hated her more than he had loved her. Amnon said to her, Get up and get out!’”

Daily Bread
1) The difference between love and lust.
Amnon’s actions toward Tamar show how lust can be disguised as love. True love respects and honors the other person, focusing on their happiness and well-being. In contrast, lust seeks only personal pleasure, often causing harm. It’s important to recognize the difference between real affection and selfish desire in relationships. Build relationships based on respect, purity, understanding, and genuine care. Before acting on your feelings, think about whether your actions will honor the other person’s dignity. If you’re uncertain, talk to trusted mentors or friends who can provide guidance based on the Bible. Ask yourself: Do my actions reflect God’s love or my own selfish desires?


2) Follow godly advice.
Amnon’s downfall was accelerated by the unwise and ungodly advice of Jonadab, reminding us the importance of choosing our advisors carefully. The people we listen to can greatly influence our life decisions. Evaluate those who you seek advice from in your life—whether friends, family, or mentors. Make sure their counsel aligns with Biblical truth that guides you toward righteousness. Especially when making important choices, seek multiple perspectives from those who show wisdom and strong Christian faith. This can help you avoid decisions you may later regret. Ecclesiastes 7:5 says, “It is better for a man to hear the rebuke of the wise than to hear the song of fools.”


Prayer: Heavenly Father, guide me in understanding and practicing the love of Christ, which sacrifices and seeks the best for others. Protect me from misleading desires and influences. Help me to choose advisors who lead me closer to You. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.


One Word: Godly love overcomes selfishness!



Photo by shuang paul wang from Getty Images

Music:
Theme: Podcast theme music by Transistor.fm. Learn how to start a podcast here.
Intro: Inspirational Acoustic - Organic Harmony by Sonican
Outro: My Love Medium by Grand_Project