November 5
As much as some of us would like to fix the people in our lives that, in our eyes, need fixing, we were actually just meant to love them.
Three Thoughts
Jesus made it very clear that people would recognize us by our love for one another. But a lot of the time people just recognize us for our opinions and church attendance and how well we think we behave. If someone looked at your life, would they know you followed Jesus based on your love for others?
JOHN 13:34-35
You can't give what you don't have, and we need the Holy Spirit to help us love others. Paul says that God's love has been poured into us by the Spirit. I like that image. We need to ask God to love others through us, in his strength, not ours.
ROMANS 5:5
Before you ever loved God, he loved you, back when you were a mess with no plans to change. The people around you that frustrate you the most need the same thing that you were given: love that shows up before change does.
1 JOHN 4:19
Two Quotes
Evangelist Billy Graham on love:
"True love is an act of the will - a conscious decision to do what is best for the other person instead of ourselves."
Author Bob Goff on joy and love:
"When joy is a habit, love is a reflex."
Prayer
Dear God, I confess that sometimes I treat people like projects that I can fix, always aware of what needs to change in their life. I ask that you would pour your love into me again because mine obviously runs out fast. In Jesus' name, amen.
Question
Who have you been trying to change and what would it look like to simply enjoy your time with them this week?
P.S. Would you guys like a digital advent devotional this year??