Day 17 – Daily Devotional – January 21, 2025 – Authentic Love
READ
John 13:34-35 “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.”
EXAMINE
Hello, Bethel The commandment to “Love God” wasn’t new to those to whom Jesus was speaking. In fact, many of them knew and could recite the Old Testament passage in Deuteronomy that mandated to love God with all of their heart, soul, mind, and strength. However, Jesus took this idea to a new level. To be a follower of Jesus, you can’t just “Love God”, but are called to “Love one another just as Jesus loved us.” That’s a real challenge because we see all the flaws of those people. Some of them, DEEP FLAWS. Like, “I’d rather punch them instead of loving them!” The problem with that attitude is we fail to remember that we were deeply flawed when Jesus showed His love to us. So now it’s time to take on a new mindset; a Jesus mindset.
APPLY
What does it mean to “Love one another just as Jesus loved us?” What are the characteristics that we see demonstrated in the love of Jesus? 1 Cor. 13 reminds us what love looks like on display. Love is patient, kind, sacrificial, serving, and delights in generosity. Sometimes in our culture the idea of “love” is captured by feelings, romance, or physical attraction. While love may encompass some of those things, the reality is that God’s love for us is deeper than anything this world has to offer and our love for one another is to be defined by this same type of authentic love. What could you do today to love your co-workers with an authentic love? What would love look like to a neighbor today? A stranger in the store? Commit today that the greatest thing you could do to tell others about Jesus is to love them well!
PRAY
As you read over John 13 and 1 Corinthians 13 today, ask God to show you ways where you might need to grow in displaying love to others. Ask Him to reveal areas where you’re doing well loving others. Thank Him for His beautiful life of what love looks like and commit to loving others as He first loved us.