What Does Love Require of Me?

Please take a moment and read the scripture from this weekend:
1 Corinthians 13 & Matthew 7:7-12

As I read chapter 6 of Andy Stanley’s book, “Better Decisions, Fewer Regrets,” I couldn’t stop singing a song from my childhood, “They’ll Know We Are Christians By Our Love.” The verses are easy, “We will work with each other, we will work side by side …”, “We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand…” and the refrain is simple, “And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love, and they’ll know we are Christians by our love.”

The scripture passages that Stanley focuses on during this chapter are from 1 Corinthians 13. These passages of love are most commonly heard at weddings, but Paul meant these words to be heard by all of the church. They answer the question, “What does love require of us?”

“Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude.
It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful, it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things,
hopes all things, endures all things.”

Using this scripture as a guideline for how to react to others could positively impact our community. Patiently standing in the checkout line is an act of love. Kindly giving someone the right of way is an act of love. Cheering on our co-workers, knowing their success is not our failure, is an act of love. Allowing a partner to load the dishwasher differently from your way, is an act of love. Refusing to hold grudges is an act of love. All of these ordinary acts of love could really be how “They’ll know we are Christians.”

Gracious Father,
Thank you for giving us so many opportunities to love your world and your people. We need your guidance in so many ways. Give us the desire to want to be more loving. Help us to see how our actions could be simple acts of love. Thank you for sending your Son as the perfect example of Love.
In your holy and precious Son’s name, Amen.

Written by Julie Anderson

Julie Anderson is a member of Sheridan’s Devotion Writing Team. She works as Sheridan’s Children’s Music Coordinator where she is passionate about teaching children to use their musical gifts to praise God.
Julie is married to Scott and counts her greatest honor as being mom to Adrienne, Eliot and Elise.