God's Holy Fire: 'Taught by God to Love'

Friday, February 13, 2026

Therefore, anyone who refuses to live by [Paul's instructions] is not disobeying human teaching but is rejecting God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you. But we don't need to write to you about the importance of loving each other, for God himself has taught you to love one another.
— 1 Thessalonians 4:8-9 NLT

Key Thought

God keeps on giving us the vitally empowering presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. One of the great blessings about this presence is that God pours love into our hearts through the Spirit (Romans 5:5). Along with the great example of God's love in sending Jesus (John 3:16-17), the Father uses the Spirit to teach us how to love each other (Galatians 5:22-23). We are to be filled with the Spirit as we submit to one another (Ephesians 5:17-21). We share in the fellowship of the Spirit as fellow believers (2 Corinthians 13:14). We live together in unity and pursue peace as the Spirit transforms us to be ever more like Christ (Ephesians 4:3-4). Loving each other is not only a command; it is also part of God's continuing work in us through the Holy Spirit.

Today's Prayer

Dear God, I confess that I do not always love others as I should. I ask you to make me like Jesus in my love for others. I am thankful for the presence of the Holy Spirit to help me see those to whom I need to show your love and to empower me to love them when it is difficult. In Jesus' name, I pray for this grace. Amen.

Have thoughts on this devotional? Leave a comment

18 Related Resources by Heartlight

God's Instruction
Devo: God's Holy Fire
"Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit."
1 Thessalonians 4:7-8
Devo: Today's Verse
"For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy..."
Called to Holy Relationships
Devo: Together in Christ
"God has called us to live holy lives, not impure lives. Therefore, anyone who refuses to live by these rules is not disobeying human teaching but is...."
God's Gracious Supply
Devo: God's Holy Fire
"God has called us to live holy lives, not impure lives. Therefore, anyone who refuses to live by these rules is not disobeying human teaching but is rejecting....."
See All 18 Related Resources about 1 Thessalonians 4:8-9

Illustration

Illustration of 1 Thessalonians 4:8-9 NLT — But we don't need to write to you about the importance of loving each other, for God himself has taught you to love one another.

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Friday, February 13, 2026

Daily Wisdom
A daily devotional featuring wise counsel found in Scripture.
1 Peter 2:17
"Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king."
Morning & Evening
The classic twice-daily devotional from Charles H. Spurgeon.
Evening Thought: 2 Timothy 4:18
"Yonder city of the great King is a place of active service. Ransomed spirits serve him day and night in his temple. They never cease to fulfil the..."
Passion for Praise
A daily passage of Scripture emphasizing praise to our God.
'For Those Who Search' (Ps. 70:4-5)
"May all who search for you be filled with joy and gladness in you. May those who love your salvation repeatedly shout, "God is great!" But as for me,...."
What Jesus Did!
A daily guide from the gospels that challenges readers to live for Jesus.
'The Voice of the Shepherd' (Jn. 10:3-4)
"[Jesus continued,] "The gatekeeper opens the gate for [the shepherd], and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by..."

About This Devotional

God's Holy Fire is a daily devotional about the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

The Thoughts and Prayer for God's Holy Fire are written by Phil Ware.

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture quotations marked MESSAGE are taken from THE MESSAGE, copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

More God's Holy Fire

Translations