SOLEMN WHISPER DEVOTIONAL

Tuesday, 19th May, 2020

HOW JESUS DEFINES LOVE

(Luke 23:33-34; Mat. 5:44)

MEMORY VERSE: "Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots." (Luke 23:34)

Jesus' type of love surpasses all dictionaries' definitions of love. In general, one may say dictionary defines love as an emotional feeling, but Jesus Christ defines it as action. Until our love translates into action, it is worthless. 

We live in a world where it's normal to love only those who love us, but Jesus Christ showed us a new and better way to love: He the most powerful one, yet so loving.  Having set the love standard, He demonstrated it for us to follow (John 13:34). He was rejected by those He came to save, He loved them still. Nothing could stop Him from loving us, not even pain or rejection. Oh, how we look for a reason to take back our acts of kindness!

To love like Jesus, we have to love without a condition. "If you love only those people who love you, will God reward you for this? Even tax collectors love their friends. If you greet only your friends, what's so great about this? Don't even unbelievers do that? But you must always act like your Father in heaven."

(Matthew 5:46‭-‬48 CEV)

Let your love be characterised by forgiveness. When you love like Jesus Christ, you can easily forgive and forget wrongs. Hurts from a wrong done to you are forgotten, when you truly forgive and forget. Jesus forgave His accusers, even with nails in His  hands (Luke 23:34). 

Be driven by compassion: learn to step into others' shoes and feel their pain; that way, you'll know how best to relate (Heb 4:15). 

Finally, there's a whole lot of people in need of Christ's love: that angry and arrogant colleague or neighbour might just be in need of love. You have all it takes to spread God's love, just do it! 

PRAYER: Dear Lord, grant me the strength to love everyone like you do, in Jesus' name. Amen. 

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Mokelu Rinnah.