“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love.” (1 Corinthians 16:13-14 NIV)
Do everything in love.
Jesus did everything in love. He didn’t force His presence on anyone. When someone disagreed with Him, He allowed them to disagree. His response, always loving, always kind. Even on the cross, just breaths away from death, he responded lovingly to the convict beside him when He said, “Truly I tell you, today, you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43 NIV). Life changes when we do it with love.
When we lead with love, life changes.
Fireproof is a 2008 movie about a firefighter whose marriage has disintegrated because of his addiction to online pornorgraphy. His wife is filing for divorce, he is at rock bottom. But then he receives a challenge to do the “Love Dare.” A thirty day challenge to do an act of love each day for his spouse. He makes the commitment to love his wife daily with action. He throws out the computer that tempts him to watch porn. He starts doing what the challenge tells him to do. At first, she doesn’t believe his actions of love. Slowly, over time, she begins to see he is a changed man. She didn’t change, he did.
Love changes us. When we put others’ needs before our own, we grow. Selfishness is innate in all of us. Judging is too. We are good at putting ourselves first. We’re good at judging others for one reason or another. What takes work is loving like Jesus, wholly and completely, no matter what we judge.
“Then Jesus answered, “Will you really lay down your life for me?” (John 13:38 NIV)
Jesus is talking to Peter in the above verse. He’s telling Peter that he will deny him three times before morning. Peter can’t believe he would ever do such a thing, yet he does. We’re just like Peter. We love Jesus, but we deny Him when it’s convenient.
“But whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 10:33 NIV)
Jesus laid down His life for us. He never denied knowing us. He loved us completely. How are we to love like Jesus? Completely. But in our humanness, we will never love as well as Him. We can certainly try though.
We can follow the prompts from God to go the extra mile. We can put aside our own needs and wants for others. Loving others is a day by day thing. Every situation is different. Sometimes, the best way to love is help. Sometimes, the best way to love is let them suffer the consequences. Jesus didn’t stop Peter from denying Him. He just loved Him anyway, right where he was.
When we lead with love, life changes.
Question of the Day:
How can you lead with love today?
Further Reading: Job 16:1-19:29 NIV, 1 Corinthians 16:1-24 NIV, Psalm 40:1-10 NIV, Proverbs 22:1 NIV
