Triumph Over Trials - 1 and 2 PeterЗагвар

Love One Another Earnestly

Read: 1 Peter 1:22-25

SOAP: 1 Peter 1:24-25

For all flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of the grass; the grass withers and the flower falls off, but the word of the Lord endures forever. And this is the word that was proclaimed to you.

Into the Text

Have you ever paused to consider the depth of your love for others? In 1 Peter 1:22-25, we are urged to love each other deeply, from the heart. This isn’t a superficial or conditional love, but rather a sincere, selfless love that mirrors the love of Christ.

To love sincerely and selflessly, like Christ, we need to take our eyes off ourselves. Instead of asking, “What can others do for me?” we should ask, “How can I love others better in my life?” This shift in focus from self to others is transformative. It’s where the seed of Christ-like love is planted and nourished. So many people view love as mainly a feeling, but it is not. You can still choose to love someone even when you don’t feel love toward them. Christian love is not primarily a matter of feelings but rather a matter of the will. We show we love others by how we treat them (John 13:35).

But it is hard to love others well when we don’t submit our lives to what God’s Word says. As we read God’s Word, we see Jesus’ example and learn the importance of loving others well. We love because Christ loves us. We learn what Christ-like love is by studying and obeying His Word. In a world where everything seems so transient and fleeting, God’s Word stands in stark contrast. It is living, active, and will last forever (Hebrews 4:12; Matthew 24:35).

So, what we invest our lives into matters. It is important to remember that our achievements, wealth, and material accumulations won’t last in the grand scheme of eternity. These things are temporary, fading away like a delicate flower under a scorching sun. But God’s Word will not fade away. Whatever He says will stand - and it is through this Word that we have been made new. We can be confident that our new life in Christ will last for eternity.

As we aim to live and love like Jesus, remember that it begins within our hearts. We are channels of His love, grace, and truth to a world in desperate need. Do we love others the way Christ loves us? The good news is, we don’t have to muster up the love in our own strength. We can ask God to fill us anew each day with His love so that we can pour it out on others and invest our lives in what really matters for eternity...people and God’s Word! That’s why, at Love God Greatly, we strive to get God’s Word into as many languages as possible and into as many hands as God grants us.

Prayer

Dear Lord Jesus, fill our hearts with Your selfless love so that we can pour it out on others and make eternal investments by cherishing Your Word. Help us to take our eyes off ourselves and to see the opportunities You place before us to love deeply and to live for what truly lasts. Amen.