Day 243 - The Birthright of Love

Amelia Hunter


“If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. 3 If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing. 4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.” - 1 Corinthians 13:1-7 NLT

God’s love isn’t something you have to earn. As a believer in Jesus, love is your birthright.

A “birthright,” according to Merriam-Webster online, is “the right of the son born first in a family to inherit his father’s possessions.” In ancient Israel, for example, all the sons received some of their father’s property. Still, according to the Bible, the firstborn received a double portion and became the family leader.

When thinking about this from a mental health standpoint, I realized something powerful. If love is my birthright, I should receive a double portion from our Father God. Then, in turn, I should consistently be producing love because, as my birthright, it overflows from me. In 1 Corinthians, we see this simple yet powerful example of why we should have love in our lives. Love is not just our birthright; it is our livelihood and our essence, and it brings healing to our minds.


Next Steps

  • Think about it: Do I view love as a birthright from God, or something I have to earn? Why?

  • Action Step: Find one way to show a friend or family member that you love them today.