Love God Greatly - Made for CommunitySample

Paul encourages the members of the church to use their different gifts so that the body of Christ can operate in unity and efficiency. Paul then goes on to give instructions on how Christians should interact with each other. Believers are to show love in action: showing brotherly love without hypocrisy, showing affection to one another, giving selflessly, acting on our hope, patience, and steadfastness. These actions demonstrate our faith in God. Meeting a believer’s physical needs and inviting believers into our homes are tangible acts of love that Paul encourages believers to perform. How we treat our enemies is an indication of our spiritual maturity. We can overcome evil directed towards us by our love in action.

Am I reserving my giving and my hospitality to those select few that I deem worthy? Or is it to whom God desires me to give? Is it easier for me to pray that someone receives help than to actually provide the help they need? Is my desire for “me-time”, comfort, and convenience preventing me from meeting someone’s physical needs?

PRAYER: Father God, You are the God who gives so freely of Yourself, never expecting anything in return. Lord, create in us a heart that gives like You do. Destroy the habits and patterns of rationing out our goodness, choosing to serve those we deem worthy, and retaliating with evil deeds. Lord, Place in our paths more opportunities to give in order to free us from a selfish nature. Lord, help us to place Your desire to be magnified in this world above our desire to be comfortable. In Jesus’ name. Amen.