Encouragement for New BelieversSample

When Paul says, "Your love for one another is growing," he doesn’t mean that life will be perfect and everyone will do what you want. God wants you to develop the kind of love that’s not defined by your feelings, but a sacrificial love that says, "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me." (Galatians 2:20 NIV) It’s easy to love the idea of a perfect relationship, without actually loving your partner. Or dream of what your children could be if they listened to you. But true love is tested when you have to love those people who don’t behave as you would like.

Jesus said, "As I have loved you… you must love one another" (John 13:34 NIV). He won’t ask you to do anything without giving you the strength to do it. Are you ready to grow in this kind of love?

Writer Kristin Armstrong says: "Affection doesn’t depend on behaviour, mood or circumstances. Being pleasing does not equate to being lovable. Imagine if Jesus loved us only when we behaved perfectly. We’d never experience His affection, and consequently we’d wither away. And since Jesus is our example, we need to love others with Christlike grace. He loves us according to His capacity, not according to the degree of our merit. We must love others… not by our standards but by His."