Love Comes Out in Our Words

I get these devotionals from a pastor in the Houston area (thank you Meredith!) and they are always so wonderful. I don't like to sign up for lots of long e-devotions that I'm not going to make time for - have done this before. But these are short and so poignant:

Loving Your Neighbor

Love your neighbor as yourself.
Matthew 22:39


What does it mean to love your neighbor? What does love look like in our daily lives?

Love is radically other-centered. It is a most unusual preoccupation with other people and their needs, instead of being preoccupied with yourself and your needs.

Love listens. You listen because you care. You listen because you really want to understand. When someone is listened to, and they feel understood and cared for, well that is just about the most powerful thing on earth. Love listens.

Love serves. Love is always asking, “How can I serve him? How can I help her? What needs does he have? Does God want to use me in her life?” Love is always looking to serve. Love is forever grabbing a towel and a basin, and washing feet. Love serves.

Love is kind and gentle. Love comes out in our words. It comes out in our voice. There is a gentleness, a kindness, a patience, a tenderness. Our words are not harsh and abrasive. They are not demanding and impatient. They are not sharp and strident. Love is kind and gentle.

This is love. This is how to love your neighbor. It is simple though it is not easy. God can give you grace. Fill up with his love, and then let it spill over.

This hit me like a ton of bricks as I read this after an afternoon/evening of being impatient and frustrated with my kiddos. Oh, is it hard to maintain the patience! I take that back - in my own strength it's hard, but when I've been in prayer and listening to the Spirit's leading His patience flows out. Whew! Lord help me - my words are so often "harsh and abrasive, demanding and impatient, sharp and strident" with my kids, especially the strong-willed one. :) Amazing that God led me to this this evening - his grace gently rebukes and corrects - at the perfect time. Thank you Jesus. Also amazing that God loves us with this kind of patience too. wow. Hope this encourages you too...

(These Monday, Wednesday and Friday devotional e-mails are written by Jeff Wells, Senior Pastor at WoodsEdge Community Church. To hear our weekly messages or to find out more about WoodsEdge please go to www.woodsedge.org.

© 2009 WoodsEdge Community Church. All rights reserved. This article may be reproduced for any non-commercial use with proper attribution.)