Devotions this week based on the Message: “BELIEVE: Week 21: LOVE”
(NOTE: This sermon series and devotional series is based on a book by Randy Frazee entitled, “BELIEVE.”
You may choose to download or purchase the book as a supplement to your worship and devotional emails.)
What is the loving thing to do?
It’s a great question.
It’s a difficult question to always answer.
it’s also a default question.
It’s a question to which I may not always like the answer.
But yet it is the compelling question for the Christian to ask.
1 John 4:7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
A follower of Jesus will always be asking the question, “What is the loving thing to do?” Because the loving thing to do is always a reflection of God’s love.
So how do we know what the loving thing to do is?
The loving thing to do may be inconvenient. Love is sacrificial.
John 15:12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
Love is rarely convenient and usually means giving up some personal preference for the benefit and blessing of another. How much one gives up varies, but some level of sacrifice is often called for. So, what is the loving thing to do? Perhaps it is the activity that requires me to give up more than I naturally would like to do.
The loving thing doesn’t come with strings attached. Love is unconditional.
Ephesians 5:1-2 Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Jesus realized that his act of love would not be recognized or received by many, yet he still offered himself for us. He didn’t ask for payment in return for his sacrifice. His love was unconditional. Perhaps what is loving is that which I can do without attaching strings. If I find myself desiring repayment of some kind, it might have been a nice thing to do, but probably not loving because it came with conditions.
The loving thing doesn’t call for apathy. Love is active.
Here’s what it looks like:
1 Corinthians 13: 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails.
Perhaps of any “list” in the Bible about “How to love?” or “What love looks like?” this is probably the best. If I ask “What is the loving thing to do?” and that response is rude, self-seeking or anger…probably not the loving response. If the response is forgiving, truthful, kind or patient…probably the loving thing to do!
Much more could be said. Not every situation is easy, but may God’s Spirit lead all of us to a deeper more profound understanding of God’s love for us so that we might be better filled to fully love others around us.
Apply: What aspect of loving in 1 Corinthians 13 is the hardest for you to put into practice?
Prayer: Lord, as you have loved me, help me to love others. AMEN.