Tuesday, April 22, 2025
New Testament Reading Plan: Acts 2
I left Record Town in August of 1998 with “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” vibrating the speakers of my ‘88 gold Pontiac Bonneville. The album was my most anticipated summer purchase, and it didn’t disappoint. It delivered a timeless spiritual and cultural love letter to the past, present, and future.
The songs were everything, but the interludes pulled listeners into conversations about love between a teacher and his students. They were charming and innocent and offered a look into something we’ve questioned and sought since human life began:
What is love?
The more we live in this world, the more miseducation of love we receive.
Ephesians 1:3-4
3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. 4 Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.
Those verses encapsulate love and the love God continuously has for all people. Our recent celebration of Easter also speaks to the subject. Whether you’ve heard the factual account of Jesus’ death and resurrection before, or last weekend was the first time, it all points to love.
It’s impossible to fully comprehend God’s love, but it’s easy to see it in action, reflected in the significance of Jesus’ death. He died to save everyone, including you. It was all part of God’s master plan that began long before we - or the world - were created.
No matter what, God’s love doesn’t go away. It’s written in the stars and shines in the morning. He only asks you to accept it by choosing Jesus as your Savior and building a relationship with him. He sends us reminders of his love even when we turn from him.
In “Love Me Still,” Chaka Khan sings, “I loved you when, do you love me still? I love you now, do you love me still? I loved you young, I love you old. I loved you then, do you love me still?”
It’s time to stop the world’s miseducation of God’s love. Embracing his son is the only way to experience a bit of heaven while we wait to gain the full glory of God’s promises.
Do you need to re-examine how you love and live in light of God’s endless love for you?
Questions:
How do you feel about God’s love? How has your love for others changed over time?
Next Steps:
Begin trusting Jesus by diving into God’s love letter to his people (the Bible). You can do this through daily devotionals, like the LIO, and joining Groups that follow Bible studies. Love others by taking time to understand and forgive them.
Prayer:
God, I want to love everyone as you love me. Help me do this by guiding my heart to accept differences and forgiving others. Guide me to use more words that offer education instead of shame. Guide my wants to follow your path of needs for my life. Amen.
Theme Verse:
Ephesians 1:7
He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.
This post was written by Jaron Camp, a Findlay attendee and regular contributor to the Daily LivingItOut.