Welcome to today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread.

Today's reading titled The True Nature of Love was written by Anne Cetus.

During the pandemic lockdown, Jerry was forced to close his fitness center and had no income for months.

One day, he received a text from a friend asking to meet him at his facility at 6 p.m.

Jerry wasn't sure why, but made his way there.

Soon, cars started streaming into the parking lot.

The driver in the first car placed a basket on the sidewalk near the building. Then car after car, maybe 50 of them, came by.

Those inside waved at Jerry or hollered out a hello, stopped at the basket, and dropped in a card or cash.

Some sacrificed their money.

All gave their time to encourage him.

The true nature of love is sacrificial, according to the Apostle Paul.

He explained to the Corinthians that the Macedonians gave even beyond their ability so they could meet the needs of the apostles and others. They even pleaded with Paul for the opportunity to give to

them and to God's people. The basis for their giving was the sacrificial heart of Jesus himself.

He left the riches of heaven to come to earth to be a servant

and to give his very life. Second Corinthians chapter 8 verse 9 says, though he was rich, yet for our

sake he became poor. May we too plead with God so that we might excel in this grace of giving in order to

lovingly meet the needs of others.

Today's Our Daily Bread Devotional Scripture reading is from 2 Corinthians chapter 8, 1 through 9 and now brothers and sisters we want

you to know about the grace that god has given the macedonian churches in the midst of a very severe trial

their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity for For I testify that they gave as much as they

were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us

for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord's people. And they exceeded our expectations.

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