Loving Others
Have you ever wondered what it truly means to love others? In 1 Corinthians, Paul says:
“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."
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 NIV
Take a moment to be still before the Lord and reflect on the meaning and actions of love. How does it manifest in our actions towards others? Let's look at three parts of this passage, from 1 Corinthans 13:5:
"Love does not dishonor others." Do I prioritize the needs and well-being of others over my own desires? Do I sacrifice personal gain for the benefit of others, motivated by genuine empathy and compassion?
"Love is not easily angered." Do I choose forgiveness over resentment, refusing to be provoked by the shortcomings of others?
"Love keeps no record of wrongs." Do I truly believe that love keeps no record of wrongs? And do I choose to let go of past hurts and grievances?
Truly loving others as ourselves isn't something that happens by accident. It’s something that requires transformation and God's power. It requires a heart that's surrendered to God. How will you choose to love others well today?
The Mission of God
All of our lives are spent on something.
Most people spend their days focused on growing a family, building a career, or amassing possessions. While none of those things are necessarily wrong, they can become distractions from our ultimate goal in life.
In the book of Acts, we see Paul’s transformation in Christ. As a result of meeting Jesus and being changed by His grace, Paul spends the rest of his life preaching the good news of Jesus.
For Paul, God’s grace and salvation were so great that nothing on this earth could compare to doing His work.
Paul said that nothing in his life mattered as much as telling others about God’s grace. His goal in life was to finish his own race well by faithfully accomplishing as much of the mission of God as possible:
"However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God's grace."
Acts 20:24 NIV
The mission of ...