Page 4 - 05 December 2025

PAGE 4 · THE REPORTER 5 DECEMBER 2025

always hopes, always
perseveres. 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. For we know in
command I give you: love part and we prophesy in part,
one another. As I have loved but when completeness
you, so you must love one comes, what is in part
another. By this everyone will Love is more than an hasten to the poor and disappears. When I was a
know that you are my emotion, it is a language that needy. It has eyes to see child, I talked like a child, I
disciples, if you love one is understood and felt across misery and want. It has the thought like a child, I
another.' (John 13:34-35) e v e r y b o r d e r. I n 1 ears to hear the sighs and reasoned like a child. When I
Further reading: Corinthians verse 13, Paul sorrows of men. That is what became a man, I put the
uses the same word for love love looks like.' ways of childhood behind
Matthew 25:34-40: 'The as that used in Mark 12, me. For now we see only a
It was Christmas Eve, the by Jesus to notice those in King will say... "For I was verse 30: agape. God's own An action to take: Today, let reflection as in a mirror; then
house filled with laughter, need. hungry and you gave Me love language. This is the love be your language. we shall see face to face.
warmth, and the smell of Love is slow enough to something to eat, I was patient, kind, forgiving, Choose to speak it not just in Now I know in part; I shall
food. Everything was ready notice yet quick to serve. thirsty and you gave Me trusting love that always words, but in action. Be know fully, even as I am fully
for our family feast - except Don't be too busy to notice something to drink, I was a hopes and perseveres. patient with someone who known. And now these three
one thing: my son was others or running too fast to stranger and you invited Me tests your patience. Show remain: faith, hope and love.
missing. He was only see a need. in, I needed clothes and you We experience this love from kindness to the person who But the greatest of these is
the Father and are invited to
thirteen, often out with clothed Me, I was ill and you treat others in the same way. least expects it. Forgive love.
friends, but on Christmas Jesus has people prepared looked after Me, I was in quickly, encourage freely, Galatians 5:6: For in Christ
Eve we were meant to be for your love. As John Wesley prison and you came to visit The way we behave in love is and believe the best in Jesus neither circumcision
together. The day before, said: 'Do all the good you Me." Then the righteous will a witness to the Father’s love: others. Let every word, nor uncircumcision has any
while we were in town, a can, by all the means you answer Him, "Lord, when did 'A new command I give you: gesture, and attitude be a value. The only thing that
love one another. As I have
homeless man had caught can, in all the ways you can, we see You hungry and feed loved you, so you must love translation of God's love counts is faith expressing
his attention. in all the places you can, at You, or thirsty and give You through you.
all the times you can, to all something to drink? When one another. By this itself through love.
Amid the Christmas cheer, the people you can, as long did we see You a stranger everyone will know that you A prayer to make: Lord, Mark 12:30-31: "Love the
his eyes saw someone's as ever you can.' and invite You in, or needing are my disciples, if you love help me to love well. Put Lord your God with all your
need. Later he asked me for clothes and clothe You? one another' (John 13:34- strength in my hands to lift heart and with all your soul
some cash for a last-minute An action to take: Open When did we see You ill or in 35). the weary, speed in my feet and with all your mind and
gift; I assumed it was for a your eyes to someone who prison and go to visit You?" And how do we love? With to run towards the broken, with all your strength." The
relative. might feel unseen or p a t i e n c e , k i n d n e s s , vision in my eyes to see the second is this: "Love your
forgotten - a neighbour, a The King will reply, "Truly I forgotten, and compassion
When my son finally came co-worker, or even a tell you, whatever you did for forgiveness, and belief in in my ears to hear the cries of neighbour as yourself."
bounding through the door, I stranger. Pause long enough one of the least of these others! the hurting. May my heart There is no commandment
asked where he'd been. 'I to notice their need, then brothers and sisters of mine, And how often? All the time! burn with love for You and greater than these.'
bought a small Christmas respond with love in a you did for Me." Your love for others burn in Leviticus 19:18: 'Do not
tree and presents for the tangible way: a kind word, a I John 3:17-18: If anyone And to whom? Everyone, m e - a c t i v e , a l i v e , seek revenge or bear a
man we saw yesterday,' he meal, a small gift, or simply has material possessions without discrimination! unstoppable. Amen. grudge against anyone
said. I was speechless. This love is triumphant, it among your people, but love
your time. Ask God to help and sees a brother or sister gives life, it overcomes evil, 1 Corinthians 13:4-13:
The words of Jesus echoed you see as He sees and to in need but has no pity on and it believes that the best is Love is patient, love is kind. It your neighbour as yourself. I
in my heart: 'Whatever you move your hands and heart them, how can the love of yet to come. It forgives over does not envy, it does not am the LORD.'
did for one of the least of towards those who need God be in that person? Dear and over again. And it is by boast, it is not proud. It does Proverbs 3:27-28: Do not
these brothers and sisters of hope. children, let us not love with loving others that the person not dishonour others, it is withhold good from those to
mine, you did for me.' I was A prayer to make: Lord, words or speech but with of Jesus can be seen. not self-seeking, it is not whom it is due, when it is in
also slightly bemused at my help me to love well. Put actions and in truth. easily angered, it keeps no your power to act. Do not say
son's creative generosity: his strength in my hands to lift Proverbs 19:17: Whoever is 'By this everyone will know record of wrongs. Love does to your neighbour, 'Come
idea, my wallet! that you are my disciples, if not delight in evil but rejoices back tomorrow and I'll give it
the weary, speed in my feet kind to the poor lends to the you love one another!' The
However, in that moment, I to run towards the broken, LORD, and he will reward gospel is communicated by with the truth. It always to you'- when you already
saw love in action - simple, vision in my eyes to see the them for what they have actions and words, Jesus is protects, always trusts, have it with you.
creative, and generous. forgotten, and compassion done. revealed through our love in
in my ears to hear the cries of
How easily we overlook Isaiah 58:10: If you spend action and by what we say.
those around us who feel the hurting. May my heart yourselves on behalf of the What a huge privilege we
hopeless. Love's response burn with love for You and hungry and satisfy the needs have, to be carriers of truth
isn't limited to gifts; it shows Your love for others burn in of the oppressed, then your through love. St Augustine
itself through compassion, m e - a c t i v e , a l i v e , light will rise in the darkness, said: 'What does love look
k i n d n e s s , a n d t h e unstoppable. Amen. and your night will become like? It has the hands to help
willingness to be interrupted Memory Verse: 'A new like the noonday. others. It has the feet to