How to be loving in a “me culture” society
Being a Christian… what does that mean? Jesus came to establish a relationship with us, not a religion or an institution. In this second part of the Follow series, we will focus on the idea that Jesus came to make a relationship with our Creator possible. Many people quit religion because it is based on performance. However, the relationship Jesus wants with us is based on His love for us.
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Be Loving
We live in a “me first” society. Our culture tells us that what matters most is my happiness and my dreams. We require our rights, our needs, and our wants first…then perhaps we can think about other people.
The idea of loving others as Jesus loved us is revolutionary. The Apostle Paul said to count others more significant than ourselves and to look out for their interests. How counter-cultural is that! Paul tells us to do something that sounds so much like what Jesus did for us. Jesus put our needs before His own. He said, “I did not come to be served but to serve and give my life as a ransom for many.” He also said that people would know we are His followers when we love others like that.
I wonder if sometimes the reason we’re unhappy and discontent is because we have put ourselves at the center of our lives. When we do that, we can never experience the full, abundant life that Jesus wants to give us. The life He wants us to have is so much bigger than ourselves.
Helping us discern what is right and wrong is something God helps us to do as we follow Jesus. But, an even more important question He would have us ask ourselves is this, “What is loving?” Think how asking this simple question as we follow Jesus could change our world…at least the part where we live! When we move beyond transactional relationships to love others the way Jesus loved us by serving others, sacrificing for the sake of others, and considering the needs of others, it is contagious.
Living a life focused on what is right and wrong is not enough. We are called to love one another as Jesus has loved us. It is also not enough to live a life focused on our dreams. One of the problems with your dreams is that they are most often all about you. Simply pursuing a dream will not give you the life you want. Instead, Jesus says, “Come follow Me and I’ll give you something you could have never dreamed!”
Father, today I choose to love others as You have loved me. That is so contrary to what my selfish desires and ambitions are telling me, so I need Your help. Thank You for the amazing love You demonstrated for me when I deserved it the least. In Jesus name, Amen.
Accompanying bible verses
NIV version
John 13:34-35
34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
Philippians 2:1-8
1 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.
3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with Godsomething to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
John 10:10
10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
[Follow] Be Loving: A 3-day devotional – Day 3
