Gems of Knowledge

Today’s One Year Bible Reading: Ezekiel 20:1–49, Hebrews 9:11–28, Psalm 107:1–43, Proverbs 27:11

---

Cherish Them

Have you ever noticed how easy it is to take the people closest to us for granted? We can be patient, gracious, and forgiving toward complete strangers, yet sometimes struggle to extend that same kindness to the people we love most. We become comfortable in our relationships, allow little frustrations to build, and before we know it, pride, misunderstandings, or hurt feelings begin creating distance where there should be love.

This morning, the Holy Spirit gave me a beautiful reminder about how we should treat one another:

“Cherish each other like you cherish Me. Be quick to say sorry and make things right. Amen.”

That word cherish really stands out to me. It means more than simply loving someone. It means recognizing their value, treating them as precious, and being intentional about caring for the relationship. And isn’t that how we should approach the people God has placed in our lives?

Think about how much time and attention we give to nurturing our relationship with Jesus. We seek His presence, listen for His voice, and desire to please Him. Yet sometimes we forget that the way we treat others is also a reflection of our love for Him.

Jesus taught us to love one another as He has loved us. And His love isn’t selfish, prideful, or conditional upon everything going our way. It’s patient, merciful, forgiving, and willing to make sacrifices for the good of others.

In today’s reading, Ezekiel 20 recounts Israel’s repeated rebellion against God. Again and again, He reminded them of His goodness, His instructions, and His desire for them to walk in His ways. Yet they continually turned away from Him.

What stands out is how often God restrained His judgment for the sake of His name, even when His people had been unfaithful. His patience wasn’t an endorsement of their behavior, but a demonstration of His mercy and faithfulness.

And that should cause us to examine our own hearts. If God has been so patient and merciful toward us, shouldn’t we extend that same grace to one another?

Psalm 107:1 (NLT) declares:

“Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.”

Throughout this psalm, we see people who have wandered, rebelled, suffered, and cried out to God. And repeatedly, He responds by rescuing them from their distress.

What a beautiful picture of His willingness to restore those who turn to Him!

But forgiveness and reconciliation require humility. Sometimes that means being willing to admit we were wrong, even when we feel justified in our frustration. Other times, it means extending forgiveness when someone comes to us seeking to make things right.

And let’s be clear: saying “I’m sorry” shouldn’t be a way to end an argument without addressing the problem. Genuine repentance means acknowledging the hurt we’ve caused and making an effort to change our behavior.

In Hebrews 9, we’re reminded of the extraordinary sacrifice Jesus made to reconcile us to God.

“With his own blood—not the blood of goats and calves—he entered the Most Holy Place once for all time and secured our redemption forever.” — Hebrews 9:12 (NLT)

Jesus didn’t simply tell us that He loved us. He demonstrated His love through sacrifice. He made a way for us to be restored to the Father, even though we could never accomplish that reconciliation through our own efforts.

Now, we cannot redeem one another as Jesus redeemed us, but we can reflect His heart in the way we approach our relationships.

We can choose humility over pride, understanding over assumptions, and reconciliation over resentment.

Sometimes the most loving words we can speak are simply, “I’m sorry. I was wrong. Will you forgive me?”

And sometimes the most loving response is, “I forgive you. Let’s work through this together.”

We can always choose to approach others with the love, honesty, and mercy that Jesus has shown us.

Because cherishing someone means valuing the relationship enough to protect it, nurture it, and make things right when we’ve caused harm.

Will you love them enough to make things right today?💎

---

Action (5 Minutes with God)

Take 5 minutes to be with the Lord today. Ask Him:

• “Lord, what do You want me to know about this personally?”
  • Journal what He gives you through His Holy Spirit.
• Then ask, “What do You want me to do?”
  • Journal what He reveals – then do it!

Think about the people God has placed in your life. Is there someone you’ve taken for granted, spoken harshly to, or allowed a misunderstanding to create distance between you? Ask the Holy Spirit to examine your heart. If you owe someone an apology, don’t put it off. Take the first step toward making things right, and look for an opportunity to show someone today how much you cherish them.

---

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your incredible love, patience, and mercy toward me. Forgive me for the times I’ve allowed pride, frustration, or selfishness to affect the way I treat others. Teach me to cherish the people You’ve placed in my life and to love them with the same grace and compassion You’ve shown me. Give me the humility to recognize when I’m wrong, the courage to apologize sincerely, and the wisdom to make things right. Help me reflect Your heart in every relationship and never take the gift of love for granted. In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

---

CONTINUE THE JOURNEY

Spend More Time with God

Just five minutes can make a difference in your day! Explore more daily devotionals filled with Scripture, encouragement, and precious Gems of Knowledge to help you hear God’s voice and grow closer to Him.