Be Passionate in Your Pursuit of Loving Others

Why don’t we celebrate loving one another with the kind of passion we see during the days that precede and follow Valentine’s Day? I’m not looking for a perfect answer, but it is a question worth asking. 

Loving one another is not about material things or events. It’s not about who gets the biggest gift, and it’s not about who has the most admirers.  

Love is about making the world a better place. It’s about showing real love to others as Christ loves us all of the time. It’s about showing people they matter.

A couple of years ago I read a post on Twitter asking for people to join together across the country to make a 100 people happy through acts of love and kindness. This was a nice gesture and the thought behind it was well intended. But we should never need a social platform to encourage us to love more.

The numbers game though is merely an attempt to measure how successful we are in doing so. But Jesus didn’t keep count and He wasn’t the least bit interested in the numbers. He just went out among the people and did the work. He was a hands-on guy who modeled time and again what loving and caring for people looked like.

I came across a article recently by Crystal McDowell that said, “Jesus healed the sick in love, raised the dead in love, fed the hungry in love, preached the Kingdom in love, cast out the demons in love, interceded for His disciples and the Church in love, and gave His life for the world in love.”

Hands down Jesus was the greatest example of true love and showed His love in action.

Hands down Jesus was the greatest example of true love and showed His love in action.

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His words tells us, “When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, He had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.” Mark 6:34 NIV

And in one of my favorite Scriptures, the Word says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:16 NIV

So how can I love the world and its people so much that I make a difference like Jesus?

The first step was to make a list of people who I could show love to. I didn’t have to physically write it out, but I did. I jotted down the names of family members, friends, work colleagues, church friends and more, and figured that was a good place to start. I also thought if some of the people on my list paid the love and kindness gesture forward, then our efforts would multiply and the effects would be far reaching.

I could not plan the number of strangers I would come in contact with, but I did vow to be thoughtful about those who crossed my path because every single person matters.

Then a seed of doubt cropped up. Could I do this? Could I model for others what love, caring and kindness looks like? I absolutely could. So, here are five ways I started showing others that I genuinely love and care about them, and model that love consistently.

5 simple ways to show others you love them:

1. Write a note of encouragement
2. Do something nice, even if the something is small….JUST BECAUSE
3. Be a better listener when someone wants to talk
4. Be there for them even when they are not so lovable
5. Pray for them and with them (when possible)

The point is we have so many opportunities to show God’s love; how we take action is up to each one of us and our creativity.

We can call it whatever we want, but it comes back to one common goal–we are to love one another. And by the way, I don’t keep count either. I just put God’s love into action every chance I get.

God makes it very clear how He wants us to love. If we are to love others as He loves us then we must be committed to Him and follow Him. Make no mistake, we are able to love to the extent we do because of Him. 1 John 4:7-9.

Make no mistake, we are able to love to the extent we do because of Him. 1 John 4:7-9.

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If we want to be a light to others then we must treat them with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and peace. Colossians 3:12. 

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to share these words with a friend, family member, acquaintance or colleague?

God’s word tells us, “Just as He loves us all of the time, so must we love one another.” John 13:34 NIV.

As you prepare to show love to others, ask the Lord to help you think of ways to be His hands and feet. Ask Him to help you see opportunities to make a positive and lasting impact on those around you.

I’ll be praying for you and I look forward to hearing from you.

Blessings & Hugs!