Anchored in Community and Mission – Day 27 – Relationships That Actually Last
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Scripture Reading:
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NIV
““A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.””
John 13:34-35 NIV
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”
Colossians 3:12-14 NIV
Devotional Thought
Why do even good relationships get so hard over time?
Usually it’s not one big moment—it’s a slow buildup of hurt, defensiveness, and unmet expectations.
Most relationships don’t fall apart because people stop caring. They fall apart because people get tired, defensive, hurt, or self-focused.
Jesus talked about love in a different way than we usually hear it. Not as a feeling you fall into, but as a way of showing up—especially when it’s inconvenient. He said this kind of love would be the most noticeable thing about His followers. Not their beliefs. Not their opinions. Their love.
One of the most famous passages in the Bible breaks that love down into everyday terms. It looks like patience instead of snapping. Kindness instead of sarcasm. Humility instead of needing to be right. Letting go of old grudges instead of replaying them. Staying present instead of checking out when things get hard.
That kind of love doesn’t come naturally. And it doesn’t mean letting people walk all over you. It means choosing a posture that’s shaped by Jesus rather than by your impulses or your past.
Another passage says love is what holds everything else together. Skills matter. Good intentions matter. But without love, relationships eventually crack.
When you choose to love this way, something shifts. Tension softens. Trust grows. Walls come down. People experience grace through you—even if they don’t have language for it.
Love isn’t weakness. It’s strength under control. And it’s one of the clearest ways God works through ordinary people.
Practice for Today
Think of one relationship that matters to you.
Choose one simple way to show love today—patience, kindness, honesty, forgiveness, or encouragement—and practice it intentionally.
Reflection Questions
Which part of loving well feels most challenging for you right now?