This is My commandment: that you love one another just as I have loved you. No one has greater love [no one has shown stronger affection] than to lay down or give up his own life for his friends. ~John 15:12-13 (AMP)
As children of God, we must love others as God loves us. That means unconditionally and sometimes even sacrificially. Loving others takes effort. Love in action requires self-sacrifice. Many people see the word sacrifice as loss, but those who know the Lord know that He is able to take what we give and multiply it back to us. Love for you and me cost Jesus His life and we should be prepared to give the same. What are you giving up to show others how much you love them? It's usually our will and our agenda. Jesus has set the standard for our giving. He gave it all! When was the last time you laid aside what you wanted to do something to be a blessing to someone? Your time? Your energy? Your money? We would do good to remember that what God asks us to do when it comes to loving others has absolutely nothing to do with whether or not they deserve our gifts of love. We give because we have been given to. We are blessed to be a blessing. We have been designated as God’s “need meeters” in the earth. We didn’t deserve what we got so how can we place that burden on those in need? Scripture teaches our Lord laid down His life while we were yet sinners and that is exactly what He expects from His disciples!
We are acting most like Jesus when we love others unconditionally because Jesus loves us consistently unconditionally. We are told in Romans 8:34 “Who then will condemn us? No one--for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and He is sitting in the place of honor at God's right hand, pleading for us.” (NLT) Christ’s love is continual through eternity. God tells us in Hebrews 7:25 “He is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through Him because He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf.” (NLT) You don’t have to bounce back and forth reasoning why it just doesn’t suit you to show love to someone today for one reason or another. If you are acting like Jesus, you would be interceding on their behalf! You would be petitioning God for whatever need that you see. Are you living to love? Are you going to God for more than your own needs? Loving on purpose is a walk. It’s a choice we should be making every day. We are promised in Romans 5:5 that “He has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with His love.” (NLT) We don't have to muster it up, it’s already there! Love is the greatest gift of all. Have you received God’s unconditional love for you? Do you believe that He gave His Son to show you just how much He loves you? You will never love others the way the Lord expects until you have received in your heart Gods unconditional love towards you. But oh when you do! You can show forth the love of God, freely and unconditionally, knowing the Lord has already multiplied that love right back to you!
Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. ~Romans 13:8 (NIV)
Who’s needs are you petitioning God for today?
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