Daily Devotions

We end week with the disciple characteristic of sharing our lives with others in open and honest fellowship. We need to also ask can I in all humility rejoice with those who rejoice, and be genuinely glad when others are blessed in some way or other.

This is the kind of behaviour Paul desires of the Philippi church; “Do nothing out of selfishness or conceit, but with humility consider others as more important than yourselves,” This is very much in line with Jesus instruction to love one another.

Jesus’ ‘new’ commandment is that we love one another. He assured us that to to be like him is to live the Christian life as loving as we possibly can be. To be filled with this blessing means that I will be called to love, to love all, without any exceptions, as Jesus did.

My love for others must not be conditioned by how others respond. Jesus loves me totally, whether I am good or bad or indifferent. My love must have that quality too. This is costly love – it could demand my very life!

However, such costly love will bear rich fruit, whether I see it or not. Jesus’ love within the fellowship of disciples only bore fruit only after his death. So, I must not be discouraged when my love seems to be wasted. True love never comes to an end (1 Corinthians 13:8). Loving actions are the building blocks of eternal life.

The truth is that we can risk loving as passionately as God loves. For we know that the love of God makes this  possible. It is no scarce resource that must be hoarded so that it may be distributed in dribs and drabs--a little here and a little there. Love is not a rare commodity; rather, the more we love with the intense particularity of God's love, the more we discover that we have the capacity to love.

I pray that my words and actions will reflect your love and that I will be a shining example of your love to those around me. Please give me the courage to stand up for what is right and to speak out against injustice and hatred and not hold a grudge toward those who disagree. I pray that you would use me as a source of love and light in this world and that my love for others would bring honour and glory to your name. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.