If you were to give yourself a grade on the quality of how you love others, what would your grade be? Would you give yourself some grace? Would you be strict on yourself and insist it must get better? Possibly you would say that your love could get better if another person changed, showed more effort, or did something else? Then again, would you pass because the other person does not deserve your love?
Whatever and however you would grade yourself, the responsibility to love others sincerely, earnestly, and creatively rests squarely on your shoulders.
Love sincerely from the heart.
Peter challenges us to love earnestly from the heart in his first letter. Check out the Amplified Version:
22 Since by your obedience to the truth you have purified yourselves for a sincere love of the believers, [see that you] love one another from the heart [always unselfishly seeking the best for one another], (1 Peter 1:22)
Peter begins with pointing back to your salvation – since you are saved by obedience to the truth of the Gospel. Then he provides the purpose: for sincere love from (source) a pure heart. This is very powerful and you do not want to miss this.
If you are a follower of Christ, you are saved with a purpose. The purpose? To sincerely love others from a pure heart.
Your love for others reflects your relationship with Christ.
There are four key questions you need to ask yourself today related to the way that you love others. (For those who are married, this is so important to consider.)
- First, Do you consider loving others your responsibility?
- Second, What is your motive for loving others?
- Third, Do you see the connection between loving others and the Gospel that you believed? How does the Gospel impact the way you love others?
- Fourth, How are you showing love? Is it consistent day-by-day? Is it creatively done?
