As humans we seek for comfort at whatever cost. Our innate response is to take care of ourselves first and then others. However, as a child of the Lord, we need to think about putting others first and ourselves last—what we can do for God’s kingdom and not what we can do for ourselves.
The church is not a disjointed body. There is one head—Jesus Christ—and He defines the values of the church. God never intended for His body to just join together at the same time in one place. He desired that we join with one another and work with one another (Psalms 133:1). If God’s people do not join together in community, we will not have unity. When we have community, we will love one another.
Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren (I John 3:16, KJV).
God desires that His people act a certain way—not the way we would want to act toward a person or in a particular situation, but the way He would act. Every chance we’re given we need to take the opportunity to be like Jesus.
It’s easy to know what we’re supposed to do, but knowing how is a different story. Paul gave the church the “how” in I Corinthians 13:4–7:
Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things (KJV).
We could have all the God-given gifts at our disposal, but if we don’t have love, we are nothing (I Corinthians 13:2). Scripture tells us that God’s love works in every situation and through every emotion. But, it will take practice to love God’s way. In order to love like Him (I Corinthians 13:4–7) we will need to experience these qualities ourselves—endure longsuffering, patience, etc.
Laying our life down for others is the only way others will know we follow Jesus. Some people will not be able to hear about Jesus until they are shown Jesus. We have a responsibility as a believer to show the world we have something different. The world needs a pattern that won’t lead to destruction. The pattern they need to see is God’s love. Today, let’s determine to seek after God’s love and show it to others so their lives can be changed!
