Love For Others

 By: Grace Metzger

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy,
peace, forbearance,  kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
Galatians 5:22-23

Like me, you've probably been shocked at the amount of hatred that's been displayed lately. People fighting, hurting, or even killing others just from hatred-and there are people who are celebrating this! I've noticed a lot of what our world lacks is love. I am a manager in a customer service setting, and I've seen people show my employees a lot of anger and hatred. I've also noticed my own employees showing people these same things, sometimes for the smallest reasons! 

If I have the gift of prophecy and can
fathom all mysteries and all knowledge,
and if I have a faith that can move
mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 
1 Corinthians 13

The world has been pushing people to care for themselves and themselves only. It pushes people to divide themselves; we don't live in community with each other but rather we live as if our neighbors and friends are out to get us. This isn't a new thing, I think of the Pharaoh in Egypt during Moses' time. He ordered the death of hundreds of innocent babies because of hatred. Humans have been proven to allow hatred to overcome their heart. But God calls Christians to be different, He calls us to love everyone even our enemies.

Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God
with all your heart and with all your soul and with
all your mind. This is the first and

greatest commandment.  And the second is like it:
 ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'"

Matthew 22:36-39

In fact, God considers love to be so important that He tells us that it's the second most important commandment, only under loving God Himself. How is it possible that love is such an important commandment and yet we still lack it? This isn't just a worldly problem, even the church has struggled with this.

I think a lot of people think this is something they don't struggle with, that they love everyone and have no hatred in their hearts. But then I think about how we treat people who aren't saved. Instead of showing them love and guiding them to remove their sin through God's love, we show them hatred and frustration that they're acting in sin even though we ourselves act in sin. 

Think back to all the little frustrations you've had today. Think about the guy who cut you off in traffic, did you yell at him? What about your co worker who's been annoying you all day? Did you wish he would get fired so you don't have to deal with him? Did you wish he would quit so your life can be easier? Or did you show these people God's love? Did you act in kindness, gentleness, and love as God calls us to?

Love is a choice; we have to choose to show God's love to everyone every day. It's not easy, trust me, when you have a customer yelling at you for twenty minutes you'll start to wonder how on earth you could possibly be showing them love. But then I think of God's commandments, He gave them to us to help us grow our relationship and other's relationship closer to Him. It's our responsibility and something we should be taking incredibly serious. 

This week I challenge you, spend 5 to 10 minutes a day and try to recall the events of the day. How did you react to others? How did you treat your enemies that day? Once you recognize the hatred you had for others then spend time asking God to remove it from your life. Trust me you will notice an incredible difference in your life! 

Discussion Questions!

1.) What helps you choose love over hatred?

2.) When do you struggle to show love to others?