Day 31

The natural result of loving God is to love other people. Why? Because God loves them, too. And if God loves each of us, we should all love each other. The simple prayer “Jesus, I love You,” therefore, should lead to a similar prayer: “Jesus, help me Love as You do.”

In the course of your day, you’ll probably encounter at least a couple of people who are not easy to Love. This prayer reflects your desire to interact with others as Jesus did, demonstrating the Love of God to them. It’s a recognition that you need God—who is Love—to make you a vessel of Love, carrying His Essence to those you meet.

Jesus told His disciples, “This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends (John 15:12–13). On another occasion, He said to them, “So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples” (John 13:34-35).

As you draw near to God each morning, don’t be surprised if He puts people on your heart who need His Love. They might be people you should pray for, or they might be people you could reach out to during the day in order to show God’s Love. We already saw that God loved us before we even knew Him. In the same way, let your love toward others be unconditional. Everyone needs love, and you can share His Love with those around you every day.

If you need a blueprint for this kind of Love, read 1 Corinthians 13. Love is patient and kind. It isn’t jealous, boastful, proud, or rude. It doesn’t demand its own way, get irritated, or keep a record of wrongs. It never gives up or loses faith. It is greater than all, and it lasts forever.

When you pray, “Help me Love as You do,” God’s Heart becomes yours and His Love begins to flow out of you. He fills you with His Love, and that equips you to overflow with Love toward others. There’s a Divine Partnership at play: the more you encounter and embrace His Love, the more it naturally finds expression as you serve, give, embrace, and bless those around you. You don’t have to be perfect at it. Growing in Love is a process. Keep getting filled with God’s Love, and let that Love flow from you as you go through the day.

Questions for Reflection

1. What does Loving people the way Jesus Loves mean to you personally?
2. Can you think of a time you showed God’s Love to someone? What was the result?
3. Are there people in your life who are difficult to Love? How could leaning into God’s Love help you with those people?