Devotional for Loving Others
This can be such a complicated topic to follow and abide by at times.
People around us can be rude and disrespectful. They can be ugly with their words and actions. People can spout off in anger and take their pain out on you.
But we are called to love them.
People can purposefully belittle you and criticize you. They can try to tear you down to build themselves up. They can cause others to turn against you as well.
But we are called to love them.
I could certainly go on, but you get the point. We are surrounded by people daily who don't know God or don't live by His word. We are all sinners, so we fall into that second category from time to time as well.
But we are called to love others. We are not to be swayed by the negativity of people or the world around us. We also are not to agree with, support, or endorse behavior that goes against God's will.
In all situations, we are to be representatives of God's love, grace, and truth. We are to be the pillars. The light.
And loving difficult people seems impossible some days. That doesn’t make you a bad Christian; it makes you human. The incredible news? You don’t love in your own strength. Jesus loved the ones who mocked, betrayed, and crucified Him. He gives you His own heart—the heart that prayed ‘Father, forgive them’ while nails were still in His hands. When you have nothing left to give, His love in you is more than enough.
Don't allow hate to enter your heart. Be rid of bitterness. Let go of anger. Forgive others. These need to be our goals so that we can follow God's command to love one another!
In marriage and family life, loving others looks like:
- Loving your spouse on the days their attitude isn't the best (because Jesus loves us on our worst days)
- Speaking life-giving words to your kids even when you’re exhausted
- Choosing to serve when you feel like being served
- Praying blessing over the family member who wounded you instead of rehearsing the hurt
- Letting your home be the first place the world sees ‘As I have loved you, so you must love one another’ lived out in real time
I intentionally added a multitude of bible verses in this post for you to reference and focus on. This is an area that I think so many of us need to pray for guidance.
Take the time to read the Bible scriptures below and truly focus on what they are saying to you. Some passages may touch you differently than others. Writing down the verses in your own hand is helpful for some individuals. Possibly looking up the verses in your Bible may be beneficial. I use a NIV bible translation. Or reading them over and over to commit to memory. Whatever method works best for you to experience God’s words and feel closer to Him.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
1 John 4:9-11
This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
1 John 4:19-21
We love because he first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.
1 Peter 1:22
Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart.
1 Peter 4:8-10
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.
Romans 12:9-10
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.
John 13:34
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
John 15:12
My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.
Philippians 2:3-5
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
Matthew 25:40
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
Galatians 6:9-10
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
Matthew 7:12
So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
Romans 15:1-2
We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up.
Matthew 5:43-47
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?
Romans 12:20-21
On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Galatians 5:13-15
You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.
1 Thessalonians 4:9-11
Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. And in fact, you do love all of God’s family throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more, and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you,
Here's a short prayer if you're struggling to find the words:
Father, loving ____ feels impossible today. My heart is tired and hurt. Thank You that Jesus loved the unlovely perfectly so I don’t have to manufacture love on my own. Pour Your love into me until it overflows to my spouse, my kids, and even the people who’ve wounded me. Make our home a place where Your love is on full display. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Try one of these today:
- Speak one specific blessing or kind word to the person hardest to love (even if it’s through gritted teeth at first).
- Pray one sentence of blessing for someone who hurt you (‘Lord, bless ____ and draw them to You’).
- Tell your spouse or kids one way you saw Jesus’ love in them today.
I pray that these verses bless you and help you in loving others as we are called to do. Let me know in the comments below which verses spoke to you most today.
God bless!
Melissa
