LOVE BEYOND LIMITS

Consistently thinking of others and trying to meet their needs, especially when that involves personal sacrifice, is a tall order! It’s so easy to be lazy, selfish, and self-centered. Most of us are that way naturally. Our first reactions are usually about ourselves—what we want and what will make us happy. But with Jesus’ help, we can develop new habits and reactions, which with time will help us become more loving and caring individuals.

It’s human nature to be self-preserving, self-seeking, self-satisfying, to put our own needs and happiness first. But the Bible promises, “Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” Jesus challenges us to manifest deep, sacrificial, impartial love for others, even though He knows such love is far beyond our human capabilities. But He can help us break those natural circuits and rewire our minds and hearts to do His bidding, which is to love others.

Jesus told His original followers, “Your love … will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” The love Jesus’ disciples had for one another, their friends, and even strangers, drew much attention and was a powerful example to others of God’s love.
To become the new creation God wants to make you, it takes a willing mind and heart, a believing spirit, prayer, and following through with many small deeds of unselfish love. Then you will find yourself thinking more of others, feeling their needs more readily, and having more genuine concern for their happiness and well-being.

When you give of yourself, when you go out of your way to be a friend, when you spend time with someone who’s lonely or comfort someone who’s sick, when you sympathize and help someone with their problems, when you make someone feel needed, you will find that it brings you a special kind of satisfaction and reward of spirit. Through performing these little acts of love and unselfishness, you will be blessed personally with happiness that can’t be gotten any other way—the happiness of knowing that you have been a blessing to someone in need.

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John 13:34-35 ESV / A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 ESV / Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.

Colossians 3:14 ESV / And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.