Usually, I have no problem coming up with my Wednesday message. For some reason I have had a hard time this week…until I read my devotion for today. Wham! I think God had me wait so I could share this with you. You know, I bet my friend Buddy had no idea how far reaching his gift of this devotional book would be.
John 13:35 “By this all people will know that you are My disciples: if you have love for one another.
“They will know we are Christians by our love. Not by our hashtags. Not by our T-shirts. Not by the highlights in our Bibles or how many scriptures we post on social media. The one thing Jesus will use to let the world know that we follow Him is our love for others.
When Jesus spoke the above words from John 13, He was sitting with His disciples at their last Passover meal. He knew what the next few days would hold: His imminent crucifixion, the fear the disciples would walk through, and His impending resurrection and victory. This would be one final pep talk that He would give them before He accomplished what He came to this world to do. Before He left them, He gave them a new commandment: ‘Love one another; just as I have loved you.’
That is how Jesus told us to love others: the same way He loves us. How does He love you? Has He given you mercy when you deserved punishment? Has He bestowed grace when you were least deserving of it? Has He forgiven you? Has He invited you to come just as you are?
We are required to love others with the same kind of love. It is hard because it feels unnatural to our flesh. Even when it is difficult, we get to go to Jesus and ask Him to fill us up with this kind of love. Ask Him today to help you love others as He loves them.”
Show mercy! Show grace! Forgive! Shine, Shine, Shine
Tina