Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today- April 6, 2014
A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. John 13:34–35
Love is irresistible for those in search of a Savior. Everyone whose heart aches for authentic relationship will take notice when seeing Christians love one another. Parents who encourage and build up their sons and daughters are a magnet to their children’s friends who live lonely lives in discouraging and disruptive home environments.
Have you thought of your home as a sanctuary for seeking souls? Every time a neighbor drops by, a friend stays overnight, or you host a party for your child’s team, you have an opportunity to model the love of Jesus toward those you know and to those whom you meet for the first time. Leverage love for the Lord, and He will draw people to Himself.
“Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality” (Romans 12:13).
Being a disciple of Jesus does have its benefits, and being loved is close to the top. When you placed your faith in Christ, you became a giver and receiver of Christian love. So do not resist the righteous care that Christ followers extend on your behalf. Be glad you model the love of God’s children that can melt the hearts of outside observers. “Why,” they ask, “do people give so much, expecting nothing in return?”
How do you intentionally love your brothers and sisters in Christ? Do you share relationships, money, your vacation home, your primary residence, or your car? It may be showing up during a health issue, praying for a job interview, babysitting their little one, or mowing their grass. Unbelievers take notice when believers lavishly love each other.
“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love” (Galatians 5:13).
Our capacity to love is limited only by the Lord’s capacity to love us, to love in us, and to love through us. His love removes our insensitive heart and replaces it with sensitivity. The Almighty’s agape love arranges our priorities around the needs of others first and ours second. His love first comforts pain in people and then waits for the appropriate time to administer truth. This level of unconditional love is a conduit for the lost to know Christ.
“Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us” (1 John 4:11–12).
Prayer: Am I receiving God’s love? Whom do I know who needs my unselfish love and attention?
Related Readings: 2 Corinthians 13:11; 1 Thessalonians 4:9; 3 John 1:7-8
Taken from the April 6th reading in Boyd’s 365-day devotional book, “Seeking Daily the Heart of God vol. 2” … http://bit.ly/Tv6y9a
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This really annoyed me because it assumes that if you’re a Christian, you wouldn’t have a “disruptive or discouraging” home life. I feel like this was really presumptuous in making the generalization that all Christians would come from Christian families or safe, loving homes. I feel like a devotional on how to behave when someone who claims to be a Christian doesn’t follow Christ or how to share God’s love with others if you have trouble accepting it yourself would be more useful for a lot of people.
Dear Tally,
Thank you so much for taking the time to reach out to us at Wisdom Hunters regarding the devotional “Attractive Evangelism”. Your comments were definitely thought-provoking and we appreciate the feedback.
Please know that the dovtional was not implying that the “Christian home life would never be disruptive or discouraging”. On the contrary, I do not know one Christian home (including my own!) that has not had their share of life’s disruptions or discouraging events. NOT ONE! However, the truth is that when a believer has those “events” in their home, they also have a Savior walking with them as they handle the events.
“When they call on me, I will answer;
I will be with them in trouble.
I will rescue them and honor them.” Psalm 91:15
And the outcome of their relationship with their Savior has a direct result on how they handle this disruption. Goodness, and because of the believer’s strong faith, unbelievers cannot help but see “His Light shining through”!(Attractive Evangelism).
I think that one of the points to “Attractive Evangelism” was reinforcing one of the many “benefits” (or I like to say “gifts”) to receiving the Lord’s Love is the capability to return that love to others, unconditionally. I don’t know about you, but I know that I cannot unconditionally love others WITHOUT HIS love….
And Tally, your last statement on “a devotional on how to behave when someone who claims to be a Christian doesn’t follow Christ…” would be more helpful was duly noted. I am sure you have run across some of those people in your life, we all have, and that makes me sad. I am sure it makes the Lord sad, also. But that is even more reason that ONLY with HIS help and receiving His gift of Love, can we in turn, love those folks.
“Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another’ God lives in us and His love is made complete in us.” 1 John 4:11-12
I would love to talk to you further about this, and as I said before, we appreciate you reaching out to us.
We are so thankful that you are a fellow wisdom hunter!
Believing and trusting~
Gwynne
gwynne@wisdomhunters.com