I’m not into doing New Year’s Resolutions but each year I write down things that I would like to see happen in my life that year and I work on making that happen. I know this year one of the areas I want to grow in for myself is to love more. I want to learn what it means to “love your neighbor as yourself” better than what I understand it today. I want to love people, not for any benefit I may get from their attention or returned affection but simple to love people because God has placed them within my sphere of influence. Whether they are co-workers that I have nothing in common with, or the person waiting on me at a register, or someone I share everything with…each person is worthy of love.
Now you might stop me right here and say “Mike! How can I possibly love everyone?” That’s a great question my astute friend. In fact the answer is in the simple things. We, as believers, have He who is Love living within us (1John 4:8, 2Tim. 1:14); loving people should be as second hand as breathing. I believe it could be if we develop habits that line up with 1 Corinthians 13:4-8,
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”
As we are starting out this new year I challenge you to take a moment and show the love of God that lives inside of you to those around you. Take a hour and do something that isn’t about you, after all when we do something that’s not for us it is an expression of love because love is “not self-seeking!”
I will admit this might feel a bit fake at first, especially if this is new for you but push through and I promise you it will be worth it. Remember that Jesus came and served us when were were His enemies (Mark 10:45, Colossians 1:21) so if He can do that then what’s our excuse for showing love to those that we encounter?
“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” | John 13:35
