Journal Entry ~ 04/20/18

34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.
35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." - John 13:34-35

In this world, we tend to love when we delight in another person.  We love when a person has attractive qualities, when they think like us, or when they do kind things for us. It’s easy to love people who make us feel good about ourselves, but these aren't the people Jesus is referring to when He gives us this commandment. He knows we already love the easy people in our lives well. 

He wants us to love the difficult people. Biblical love is not a delight in who a person is, it is a deeply felt commitment to helping the people in our lives be what they ought to be - a loved child of God. So how do we do that?  How do we help the people that God placed in our lives and lead them to Christ?  How do we specifically help those difficult people in our lives?  

We love them. We forgive them when they hurt us, we don't insist on our way, but allow them to have their way. We are patient and kind to them, even when they're not. We are not irritable or resentful when they are difficult, instead we believe that God loves them as He loves us. We look for ways we can be sacrificial in our love toward them.  What can we give up to show them love?  What is the most loving thing we can do for that difficult person right now? 

This is the work of the kingdom - this is how we bring people to Christ - this is how we disciple. We love. We win them without a word, but with our actions of love. Allow God to do an amazing work through you today - be loving.


Press on, ladies ~ you are loved 💗

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