TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL PASSAGE
“Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.”
About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray.
Luke 9:27-28
By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
John 13:35
This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
1 John 4:10
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 John 4:20-21
DEVOTIONAL
by Elder Chris Beltran
People often use the word love loosely. I love ice cream. I love traveling. Our passage today reminds us that true love is God’s Love for us. A love that is an unconditional commitment towards imperfect and hard-to-get-along people for their highest good.
Why do we need to pursue Agape Love?
First, it is the greatest commandment. Jesus sums up all the commandments into two: love God and love others. These two commandments go hand in hand. One cannot say he loves God yet does not love his neighbor. 1 John 4:20-21 states that whoever claims to love God but hates his neighbor is a liar because if he does not love his brother or sister whom he can see, how can he love God whom he cannot see. If we say that we truly love God and are His followers, then we should obey Him by loving others as well.
Second, love is the greatest value. We can see this clearly in 1 Corinthians 13: the love chapter. Paul compares the 3 important values, faith, hope, and love, concluding that the greatest of these is love. Everything we accomplished and what we have done will count for nothing if we do not have love. Our motivation for serving Him or doing ministry should always be love.
The third is Christlikeness. Christ’s teachings have always centered around love. Love God and love others. And He demonstrated His Love for us; while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Love is not just a feeling but something that is beyond it. Since it is a commandment, then it is a choice whether we will obey it or not. Love is not just in words but in deeds. Jesus commands us to even love our enemies. Do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who mistreat you. While Jesus was hanging on the cross, He had so much love for His enemies that He even said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 9:27-28). Paul further added: owe nothing to anyone except to love one another.
REFLECTION
People will know we are followers of Jesus, not because we go to church, we memorize verses, or how well we conduct Bible studies. It is because of how we love one another. John 13:35 states, “By this, everyone will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.” It means loving someone who is unlovable when they are difficult to get along with, even our enemies. We should still love them even when we don’t feel it. Luke 6:32 states, “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them.” Remember, by loving others unconditionally and sacrificially, they will know that we are His disciples.
PRAYER
Lord, often my love for You and for others is so conditional and so limited. It is so difficult to love people, especially those who have wronged us. But Lord, You have set an example of the highest standard, and I admit, I cannot reach it on my own. I cannot give what I do not have. Lord, fill my heart with Your divine love. Please give me your eyes of compassion, of seeing others as You see them. I want to be Your faithful follower. Help me, Lord, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
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