20-DAY CHALLENGE: LIVING THE CHRISTIAN LIFE (DAY-10)

20-DAY CHALLENGE: LIVING THE CHRISTIAN LIFE (Day-10)

SOME SCRIPTURES PROVIDE ADVICE SPECIFICALLY FOR CHRISTIANS

BIBLE PASSAGE:
Dear children, let us not love with words or speech
but with actions and in truth.
(1 John 3:18)

MEDITATION:
When the scriptures use the words, “Dear children”,
we know they are speaking directly to those who
have surrendered their lives to the Lord.

Of course all scripture is valuable,
but when Christians see those words
(or similar ones), we should be alert
and pay special attention to the advice following them.

We can see in 1 John that love is an action word.
John tells us that we can express love with words,
but showing love through our actions is much better.
The moment we submit to Christ, God gives us
a supernatural capacity for loving others,
because He indwells our heart with the Holy Spirit.

Followers of Christ should love each other
in the same manner that God showed His love
for us when He sent His Son to die on the cross.
Love is probably the greatest distinguishing trait
of people who have been changed by the Lord.
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have
loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone
will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
(John 13:34-35)

Being ‘changed’ is what we should expect
when we surrender to the Lord.
Some of the changes are of a magnitude we never expected,
and adjusting to them can require a conscious effort on our part.
The Holy Spirit encourages us to embrace these changes,
but anything that challenges our natural tendencies
requires an attitude adjustment, doesn’t it?.

We may have naturally loved others before we were saved,
but salvation creates in us a new love
with a new depth, passion, and intensity.
When we are changed by the Holy Spirit,
we are given a heart for others and we discover that
life is about much more than pleasing only ourselves.
Love can contribute more to solving problems than anything else.

When we allow Him to,
the Holy Spirit can teach us the joy of loving others.
Instead of waiting for and expecting others to express love
to us, we enjoy the opportunities we are given for showing love.

Sacrificing for others doesn’t bother us,
because our hearts are changed from
wanting to be served, to a desire to serve others.
And when we do, we are more prepared and willing
to serve the Lord in whatever capacity He desires for us.

The world teaches us to expect something in return
for all that we do, but when we are changed by God’s Spirit,
we experience the joy of doing things for others
with no expectations of anything in return
(we no longer keep a balance sheet).

According to John,
we also learn to be honest and sincere in our love for others.
It is not a superficial love expressed with empty words, but
it is a love that is real and consistent, even during difficult times.
When others take advantage of our love, or fail
to show appreciation for our expressions of love, we still love.

ACTON:
Have you experienced the changes of becoming a follower of Christ?
Have you discovered a new capacity for loving others?
Remember that loving others
is not just a suggestion from the Lord, it is a command.
And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son,
Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.
(1 John 3:23)

Through the Holy Spirit, God gives us the ability to love
others even when it seems they do not show love in return.
One thing we can be sure of – expressing love
is always productive, and it always pleases God.
Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease;
where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge,
it will pass away. (1 Corinthians 13:8)

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, teach me real love and help me to love others
in the same way You love me. Forgive me if I have been suppressing
the Holy Spirit You sent directly into my heart, to develop in me a
new capacity for loving others, and for loving You. Prepare me in
advance for showing my love to You by embracing whatever You
call me to do.”