DAY 1: LOVE ONE ANOTHER
by Pastor Heiden Ratner
Sep. 1st, 2024
34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” – John 13:34-35
DEVOTION
Let’s start this 21-day journey with a challenge. I want you to list the top five ways the Lord Jesus demonstrates His love toward you. Take a moment and begin listing how Christ loves you. Some of your answers may come from Scripture, others from your understanding of the gospel, or you may simply jot down specific ways you are experiencing His love in this season. Alright: ready, set, write.
This exercise has two purposes. First, it serves as a reminder of the deep and intentional love that Jesus has for you. As the disciple John taught, this love is the great motivator of our Christian life. “We love because he first loved us.” (1 John 4:19). The word Agapē (Gk: for love) implies an unconditional choice to love someone regardless of their worthiness. That’s how Jesus loves us. Not because we’re worthy but because He’s that good. Today, you can rest in the reality that you are perfectly loved by the Savior, and there’s nothing that Satan nor sin can do to change that.
The second purpose of creating this list is to know exactly how to love one another. Thirteen times in the New Testament, the call to “love one another” is given. Yet, in John 13:34, Jesus makes a profound statement that changes everything: “…love one another: just as I have loved you” (John 13:34b). Christ becomes the love standard.
Today, look for moments to be a distributor of His love. This may require patience and kindness, but then again, “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude.” (1 Cor. 13:4-5a) Embrace the joy of allowing the love of Christ to flow through you freely. There’s a community around you that needs to see, hear, and feel the love of Christ and He wants to use you to give it!
“Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.” – 1 Peter 4:8
PRAYER
Father, thank You for loving me the way You do. Thank you for sending Your Son to be the greatest display of love this world has ever seen. Thank You for the cross. The empty tomb. Your presence. I pray today You would love others through me. Give me insights, discernment, and power to love people the way You love me. In Jesus name, amen!
CHALLENGE
Write out a list of ways Jesus loves you. Practice some of those same characteristics in your community this week.