love
“Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”
1 John 4:11 NIV
Simply put: loved people, love people. The more we love God, the better we will love others.
Love in its purest form can only come from God. It is the very essence of God’s character. Therefore, we are only capable of loving Him and others because He first loved us. (1 John 4:19)
Consider the verse in James 3:14, ’faith without works is dead.” It is true that we are saved by faith in Christ alone, however, if you have a genuine faith, good works are naturally bound to follow. Similarly, as we believe and accept His love into our lives, we will become living examples of God’s benevolence. His love makes its way into the hardened places of our hearts and empowers us to give it abundantly.
1 John 3:16 says, “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid His life down for us. And we ought to lay our lives down for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”
The greatest love ever shown was the cross. When love Himself stepped into our broken world to redeem His people and restore our hearts to worship God alone and love each other rightly. Wherever we are, we can trust that God has appointed us there so that we might bear fruit that will last, to intercede on behalf of others and ask the Father for their needs.
Let’s go out of our way to be the Kingdom.
Are there any steps you can take to live out the gospel message in concrete and tangible ways?
Are you willing to sacrifice time, money, and comfort to love wherever the Holy Spirit may lead?
In what ways do you find it difficult to love others?
Steps of compassion. Messages of truth. Acts of love. There’s much work to do. Many roads left to walk. As we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, our ultimate example of love, rivers of restoration will flow from within us. (John 7:38) May our words and actions build up and not destroy. May we become a people who are set apart, give hope, speak against injustice, and above all, obey, love, and trust our God.
Practice:
living out love
Spend time reflecting on the Father’s love for you.
Are there any personal steps you can take in your life that will lead you to loving God more?
-Intentional set aside time to meet with God.
-Consistency in time spent in the Word and prayer.
-Decisions, actions, speech that reflect the overflow of your relationship with God.
Are there any steps you can take to express love toward others?
-Reach out— encourage and build others up.
-Take time to educate yourself on issues you do not understand.
-Volunteer/donate to serve and love your community.
-Share time and resources in the boundaries of which you are able to.
-Pray for and with people.
-Share the message of Jesus.
-Forgive wholeheartedly— resist holding onto anger and bitterness.
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal anyone you might be struggling to love the way Christ loves. Make it a point to pray for them this week. What does this teach you about God’s love?
centering prayer
Father, create in me a pure heart. Help me to love others as you have loved me.
