“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (Gal. 6:9 NIV)

Come to God and be given rest

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matt. 11:28 ESV)

“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.” (Matt. 11:29 ESV)

Therefore 

“You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus…” (2 Tim. 2:1 ESV) 

“For I will satisfy the weary soul, and every languishing soul I will replenish.” (Jer. 31:25 ESV) 

“But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” (Isa. 49:31 ESV)

Quote 

“When you face the perils of weariness, carelessness, and confusion, don’t pray for an easier life. Pray instead to be a stronger man or woman of God.” - Luis Palau

“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13 ESV)

Love is all around us

You hear many songs about love. Many movies are about love. Love is the subject of many books and poems. With so much written about love, you’d think we’d all be love experts, but we are not! That is because love has many different definitions. According to the passage at the top, the definition of “the greatest kind of love” is “that someone lays down his life for his friends.” That’s what Jesus did for us on the cross. And he asked us to love others as He loved us (John 15:12). Because He loved us first, we can also show love toward others.

“We love because he first loved us.” (1 John 4:19 ESV)

Therefore

“Let all that you do be done in love.” (1 Cor. 16:14 ESV)

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.” (1 John 4:7 ESV) 

“Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.” (1 Peter 4:8)

“So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” (1 Cor. 13:13 ESV)

Quotes

“Love is the doorway through which the human soul passes from selfishness to service.” - Jack Hyles 

“In the New Testament, love is more of a verb than a noun. It has more to do with acting than with feeling. The call to love is not so much a call to a certain state of feeling as it is to a quality of action.” - R. C. Sproul

“...While he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him...” (Luke 15:20, NIV)

Everyone is familiar with the prodigal son story. It’s about a boy who asks his father for an early inheritance, and then he goes to a faraway land and squanders all of it on wild living and evil friends. When his money and friends disappear and he faces starvation, he secures a job feeding pigs. At that point, his hunger is so intense that he finds himself tempted to eat pig slop. Then he comes to his senses and realizes he has sinned against both God and his father. He remembers how good he had it at home and that even his father’s servants had plenty to eat. He chooses to return home, confess his sins to his father, and ask to be a servant. But his father, who sees him coming a long way off, is filled with compassion for him. He runs to his son, throws his arms around him, and kisses him. His father then puts a new robe on him, places a ring on his finger, and then throws a big welcome back party to celebrate his return. By the way, Jesus, who is telling this story, explains that this is how God is toward us when we go astray and then repent and return. Even when we deliberately mess up, God sees us coming back “along way off” and runs to us with total forgiveness, restoration, provision, and a welcome-back party!

“In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” (Luke 15:10)

God’s steadfast love and compassion

“He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.” (Psalms 103:10-14 ESV)

Therefore

“Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” (James 4:8)

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9 ESV)

Quotes

“God pardons like a mother, who kisses the offense into everlasting forgiveness.” - Henry Ward Beecher

“When we stray from His presence, He longs for you to come back. He weeps that you are missing out on His love, protection and provision. He throws His arms open, runs toward you, gathers you up, and welcomes you home.” - Charles Stanley

“Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” (1 John 4:8 NIV)

Agape love: Agape is the term that defines God's immeasurable, incomparable love for humankind. It is his ongoing, outgoing, self-sacrificing concern for lost and fallen people. God gives this love without condition, unreservedly to those who are undeserving and inferior to himself.

The greatest kind of love

The greatest kind of love is called Agape love, which expresses itself in loving action toward others. God demonstrated it by sending His only begotten Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for us to provide the free gift of eternal life for all who will believe (John 3:16-17). This kind of love is a new commandment given by Jesus and is how people will be recognized as His followers.  

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35 ESV)

Measure your love by comparing it to God’s love definition... 

·      Love is kind

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.” (1 Cor. 13:4)

·      Love is not self-seeking

“ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.” (1 Cor. 13:5)

·      Love always rejoices in truth

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ( 1 Cor. 13:6 NIV)

·      Love always perseveres

“It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”  (1 Cor. 13:7 NIV)

·      Love never fails

“Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.” (1 Cor. 13:8 NIV)

Therefore

“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” (1 Cor. 13:13 NIV)

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.” (1 John 4:7 ESV)

“Let all that you do be done in love.” (1 Cor. 16:14 ESV)

“Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.” (1 Peter 4:8 ESV)

Quote

“In the New Testament, love is more of a verb than a noun. It has more to do with acting than with feeling. The call to love is not so much a call to a certain state of feeling as it is to a quality of action.” - R. C. Sproul

“God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God.” (Rom. 8:28, NLT)

Things will work out okay because…

• God cares for you

“Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7 ESV)

• God hears and  answers

“Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear.” (Isa. 65:24)

• God is your shepherd

“A Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” (Psalm 23:1 ESV)

• God supplies every need

“And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:19 ESV)

• God hears and saves

“This poor man called, and the LORD heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles.” (Psalm 34:6)

• God will take care of you until you are old and gray

“I am your God and will take care of you until you are old and your hair is gray. I made you and will care for you; I will give you help and rescue you.” (Isa. 46:4 GNT) 

Therefore

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isa. 42:10 ESV)

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:6-7 ESV)

Quote

“Through many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come; 'Tis grace has brought me safe thus far and grace will lead me home.” - John Newton

“...The eyes of the LORD search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him...” (2 Chron. 16:9, NLT) 

The way of the Lord is strength

“The way of the Lord is strength for the upright, but destruction will come to the workers of iniquity.” (Prov. 10:29) 

The Lord is your strength, deliverer and stronghold

“The Lord is my Rock and my Fortress and my Deliverer. My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” (Psalms 18:2) 

The Lord is your strength and life so don’t be afraid of anyone

“The Lord is my Light and my Salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1)

The Lord is your strength and your shield and you are helped

“The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I will praise Him.” (Psalm 28:7)

Therefore

“Ascribe strength to God; His excellence is over Israel, and His strength is in the clouds. O God, You are more awesome than Your holy places. The God of Israel is He who gives strength and power to His people. Blessed be God!” (Psalms 68:34-35)

“Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait I say on the Lord!” (Psalm 27:14)

The Lord God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer’s feet, and He will make me walk on my high hills.” (Hab. 3:19)

“He remembered us in our weakness. His faithful love endures forever. He saved us from our enemies. His faithful love endures forever. He gives food to every living thing. His faithful love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of heaven. His faithful love endures forever (Psalms 136:23-26 NLT]

“Sing aloud to God our strength; make a joyful shout to the God of Jacob.” (Psalm 81:1)

Quotes 

“Trying to do the Lord’s work in your own strength is the most confusing, exhausting, and tedious of all work. But when you are filled with the Holy Spirit, then the ministry of Jesus just flows out of you.” – Corrie Ten Boom

“This hard place in which you perhaps find yourself is the very place in which God is giving you opportunity to look only to Him, to spend time in prayer, and to learn long-suffering, gentleness, meekness – in short, to learn the depths of the love that Christ Himself has poured out on all of us.” – Elisabeth Elliot

“They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green…” (Psalm 92:14 NIV)

“With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.” (Psalm 91:16 NIV) 

Human days are limited to 120 years

“Then the LORD said, “My Spirit will not contend with humans forever, for they are mortal ; their days will be a hundred and twenty years.” (Gen. 6:3 NIV)

Moses was strong and healthy on the day he died at 120

“Moses was 120 years old when he died, yet his eyesight was clear, and he was as strong as ever.” (Deut. 34:7 NLT)

 “You will come to the grave in full vigor, like sheaves gathered in season.” (Job 5:26 NIV)

God will sustain you in your old age

“Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.” (Isa. 46:4 NIV)

Therefore

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” (2 Cor. 4:16 NIV)

“Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these?” For it is not wise to ask such questions.” (Eccles. 7:10 NIV)

“But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.” (Isa. 49:31 NLT)

Quotes

“In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count.  It’s the life in your years.” - Abraham Lincoln 

“Do not grow old, no matter how long you live. Never cease to stand like curious children before the great mystery into which we were born.” - Albert Einstein

“Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” (Psalm 126:2 ESV)

There is a time for laughter

“A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance.” (Eccles. 3:4 ESV) 

“…Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.” (Luke 6:21 ESV)

God will fill your mouth with laughter

“He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy.” (Job 8:21 NIV)

 Therefore

“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.” (Prov. 17:22 NLT)

“A glad heart makes a cheerful face, but by sorrow of heart the spirit is crushed.” (Prov. 15:13) 

Quote

“Laughter is the most beautiful and beneficial therapy God ever granted humanity.” - Chuck Swindoll

“Avoiding a fight is a mark of honor; only fools insist on quarreling.” (Prov. 20:3 NLT)

Quit early before a quarrel begins

“The beginning of strife is like letting out water, so quit before the quarrel breaks out.” (Prov. 17:14) 

Do what is honorable

“Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.” (Rom. 12:17 ESV)

Be silent and let the Lord fight for you 

“The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.” (Exo. 14:14 ESV)

Therefore

“Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” (1 Peter 3:7-12)