Love That Finds the Good
The world sees torn covers, but Christ sees a treasure worth restoring.
Devotional Credit: Days of Heaven Upon Earth, April 29
Photo Credit: Unsplash
Today’s devotional from AB Simpson reminds me that the true work of God is not mechanical or clinical — it’s deeply relational, rooted in divine love that sees what others overlook. Rather than confronting people first with their failures, the Spirit of Christ approaches through encouragement, reaching into their hearts by recognizing the good and drawing them into deeper need and transformation.
Jesus models this beautifully when He meets the woman at the well. He gently acknowledges her thirst rather than hammering her brokenness (explored deeper here). His kindness opens her to confess her deeper need.
The message today points out that genuine Christ-love doesn’t scorn weakness or fixate on what’s wrong. It seeks out the place where hope can be kindled. It calls the beauty forth. It is not natural love — it is Christ's life, rising up and reaching out through those yielded to Him.
It is only Christ, alive within us, who can love others like this — not by our striving, but by His Spirit living His life through us.
Personalized Journal Entry – Voice of the Holy Spirit Through Scripture
I have poured My love into your heart through the Holy Spirit whom I have given you. My love never fails. Where prophecies will cease, tongues will be stilled, and knowledge will pass away, My love remains forever.
Let your love be sincere. Abhor what is evil, but cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor others above yourselves. I have called you to bear with one another in love, making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
As you abide in Me, you will bear much fruit, for apart from Me, you can do nothing. It is My joy to live through you, to see the treasures in others that I placed there before the foundation of the world. I will guide your gaze to see not merely what is broken, but what is being restored by My hand.
You are the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. My love in you is patient and kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. It never fails.
(Scripture references: Romans 5:5; 1 Corinthians 13:8; Romans 12:9–10; Ephesians 4:2–3; John 15:5; 2 Corinthians 2:15; 1 Corinthians 13:4–7)
Real-Life Analogy
Imagine walking through a used bookstore. Some books look battered, with torn covers, yellowed pages, and bent spines. Many people would pass by, seeing only damage. But a rare book collector knows how to look deeper. They open a weathered volume and discover a first edition, a treasure worth restoring. To the casual eye, it looked worthless — but to trained eyes, it was precious.
In the same way, the eyes of Christ in us don’t focus on a person’s damage. They look past the frayed covers to the immeasurable worth written by His hand.
Prayer of Confidence
Father, I rejoice today that Your love is alive in me — a love that sees beyond brokenness, a love that calls forth beauty, a love that never fails. Thank You that I do not have to conjure up this love on my own. Christ lives in me, and His love flows freely through me as I rest in Him.
Today, I trust You to guide my eyes, my words, and my heart to recognize the treasure You have placed within those around me. I am grateful to walk as one who carries Your fragrance, seeing through the eyes of redemption and loving with the hands of Christ.