LIVING FOR LOVE
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Simon Peter asked him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus replied, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later.”
John 13:34-35 (NIV)
I am a creature of habit. Every morning, I drive the same route to work, and I pull into the drive-thru of the same Starbucks. One morning, I began rattling off my order, but before I could finish my request for a latte with a double shot of peppermint syrup, the barista called me by name and said, I know this order! Pull up to the window, and I’ll have it ready for you! She knew me. I didn’t have to give the details of my drink order because she had heard it many times before, and she recognized the sound of my voice.
As I pulled away from the window, I wondered, what am I truly known for? My creative abilities, my personality, or my loyalty? While those are all details about me, they’re not what I want people to think of first when they hear my name. I belong to Jesus, and my identity is rooted in Him. He said that people will know us by our love for each other. It is because of His perfect love for us that we can love others and point them to Him. Loving others is a call on the lives of all Christians, and a way of life on this side of heaven. Jesus promised that if we surrender our lives to Him, we will follow Him into eternity. The next time you show love to someone could be the moment that their eyes are unveiled to the love of Jesus.
APPLICATION: Read 1 Corinthians 13. As you read, take notice of the characteristics of love as defined by Scripture. How is this different from the world’s view of love? Based on the passage, in what ways could you begin to show genuine love to others?
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank You for loving me perfectly. It is only because of Your sacrifice that I can love as You have commanded me to love. I need Your strength and guidance to show love to others so that my life can reflect You. Amen.
"… Our Father in heaven…" Matthew 6:9b (NLT)
• What do You want to say to me today as my Father?
"… may your name be kept holy." Matthew 6:9c (NLT)
• What do You want to reveal to me about Your power today?
"May your Kingdom come soon." Matthew 6:10a (NLT)
• Help me make Your priorities my priorities today.
"Give us today the food we need," Matthew 6:11 (NLT)
• Is there anything specific You want me to do with my time or the people I'm around today?
"and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us" Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
• Reveal to me anyone I need to forgive or ask for forgiveness.
"And don't let us yield to temptation…" Matthew 6:13a (NLT)
• Is there anywhere I'm vulnerable to temptation?