How to grow in love-Shining for Christ
What truly matters is loving God and loving others, but how do we do that effectively? The truth is, we can’t love people well in our own power. But when we look to God and lay ourselves down in humility, we can live from God’s authentic and powerful love.
~
A Growing Love Shines Brightly
In honor of the 50th anniversary of the moon landing, the Harris Poll (a market research company) surveyed American kids to ask what they wanted to do when they grew up. YouTube star ranked number one.
More than ever before, individuals are seeking the spotlight of personal glory. In contrast, Christians are called to shine brightly for the glory of God. What does that look like practically?
Let’s find out by highlighting some of today’s Scripture passages.
… work out your salvation … for it is God who works in you … Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure … Then you will shine… Philippians 2:12-15 NIV
… let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father … Matthew 5:16 NIV
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. James 1:22 NIV
… The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. Galatians 5:6 NIV
These passages reveal that a Christian’s light is a process of growing in love by faith and cooperation with the Holy Spirit.
So what does a radiant Christian look like? Is it a person who smiles all the time and never seems to have a bad day? Is it someone who is impressively nice, or the most outwardly generous person you know?
Maybe, or maybe not. Remember day three’s soul alignment—our actions and our motives matter.
Take a second to think about this stunningly true quote from the popular book The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse:
“Isn’t it odd. We can only see our outsides, but nearly everything happens on the inside.”
Radiant love stops looking at the surface. It stops comparing, judging, criticizing, and acting out of prejudice, and instead looks to God.
We shine God’s love when we know our battle is against spiritual darkness and we prayerfully fight for unity with other Christ followers. We shine when we speak up and act on behalf of injustices, live generously and gratefully, do all the good we can, and love our enemies.
Secular culture tries to lure us into seeking our own pleasure, philosophy, popularity, and purpose outside of God. Ironically, secularism has created a world of people who are chronically insecure and empty. They have either neglected or rejected exalting and magnifying God.
In contrast, the most God-glorifying people know their identity and significance comes from Him.
Brothers and sisters in Christ, to continually shine Christ’s love, we must remember that we are fully secure and infinitely significant through Christ. He is our life, our security, and our significance.
And when we live by His Spirit, secure in who we are in Him, love emanates brilliantly from us, and God receives all the glory.
Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together! Psalm 34:3 RSV
Pray: Beautiful and awesome God of love and light, I humble myself before You. I will glorify You alone. I reject the lies of insecurity. You are my significance, and I am secure in You. Help my faith grow in Your pure, sacrificial, and radiant love. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Accompanying bible verses
NIV version
Galatians 5:6
6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value.The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.
Matthew 5:3-16
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.
12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Salt and Light
13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.
15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.
16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorifyyour Father in heaven.
Philippians 2:12-16
Do Everything Without Grumbling
12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,
13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.
14 Do everything without grumbling or arguing,
15 so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky
16 as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain.
James 1:19-22
Listening and Doing
19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,
20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. 21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
James 2:14-18
Faith and Deeds
14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them?
15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food.
16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?
17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.
Psalms 34:3-5
3 Glorify the Lord with me;
let us exalt his name together.
4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me;
he delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant;
their faces are never covered with shame.
Growing in Love: A 5-day devotional– Day 5
If this devotional resonated with you, share these images with a friend!
