With Love

Why do we do kind things for other people? If we really examine our motives,/is it so we’ll win points with them and make them like us? Or do we think doing good deeds will win us points with God?.In 1 Corinthians 13, Paul is writing to the Christians in Corinth, and he says: no matter how much good we do, if we don’t have love in our hearts, our good deeds just sound like an annoying, ever-clanging cymbal (verse 1). In other words, doing good things doesn’t mean much if these actions aren’t done out of genuine lovethe kind of love God has for us..But here’s the great news. Love is not something we muster up inside ourselves./1 John 4:19 says, We love because he first loved us. If God didn’t love us first, none/of us could love Him or each other. But Romans 5:5 says, God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. Love is a gift straight from God..God’s love for us and others is so great, and we can trust Him to fill our hearts with His love and let it overflow to others! We can depend on Him to help us do things for others out of genuine love, the kind of love that compels us to lay down our life for others (John 15:13-14)..And when we’re not sure how to love, we can rest in the love of our Savior, Jesus Christ, who laid down His life for us. Though He is fully God, He came to live among us. He died on the cross and rose again three days later so we could be restored to relationship with Him. His incredible love is always with us through the Holy Spirit, and the riches of His love are also revealed in His promise to one day make all things newfree from sin and death (Matthew 28:20; Revelation 21:1-5). So by all/means, do good things! But first, rest in the good news of Jesus. Then, love others/because you know that you are loved by God./ A. W. Smith. In 1 Corinthians 13, how does Paul describe genuine love? What sticks out to you the most in these verses? . Can you think of a time God showed His love for you through the people around you? Consider taking a moment to thank Him for this, and maybe thank those people too! . Every day, we can both rest in God’s love and show it to others. We can look around us and find little ways to/show God’s great love, knowing in our deepest being that we are loved by Jesus. Consider taking a moment to ask God to help you notice ways you could show love today..My [Jesus’s] command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. John 15:12 (NIV)

Read Verses:

Romans 5:5; 1 Corinthians 13; 1 John 4:19; John 15:12