Love for Others

Stop.

Open up the news. Find a few stories of people who are hurting. Meditating on these stories, reflect on how God calls you to show love to those in need. Pray for the ones in the stories you just read.

Listen.

Let mutual love continue. – Hebrews 13:1

Reflect.

With Valentine’s Day approaching, let’s focus our devotions this week on love. On Tuesday, we talked about loving God. Today, let’s talk about loving others. 

At the beginning of this chapter in Hebrews, the author instructs the readers in a series of faithful actions. Hospitality, serving those imprisoned, living in faithfulness, and avoiding a love of money are all public actions done for the sake of others. It’s just one place where the Bible points to a continuing insistence on love for neighbors. 

When we say “neighbors”, we don’t mean those who live next to you. Saying “neighbors” when considering others simply conveys the reality that we all live and serve right next to each other. Whether around the corner or around the world, God calls us to show compassion and insist on justice for all people. God loves them so we love them, too. 

Love for neighbor isn’t cheap or superficial. It’s a demanding way of life that requires us to constantly ask: how can I serve this person in justice and truth? It often means showing compassion for those you find disagreeable. God’s love is just as real for them as it is for you. Your holy duty and opportunity is to show it.

Pray.

Open my heart to love for others. Keep me accountable to your call to serve faithfully in any possible way. Empower me to show your love for your whole world. Amen.

Carry On.

What’s one simple action you can take today – even right now – to show love for others?