
Showing Love
Hebrews 6:10
For God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers, as you still do.
Someone who is unjust would forget all kinds of things on purpose because they don’t have anyone else’s interests in mind but their own. But God tell us to not look out only for (our) own interests, but take an interest in others, too (Philippians 2:4) because that’s what he does.
God leads by example, and he wants me to care for others because he cares for me (1 Peter 5:7). He wants me to comfort others because he comforts me (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). And caring for others is not only beneficial to them, it’s beneficial to me.
I am so thankful for all that God has done for me, and I know I love him very much. And I love that he has told me the way to show him that I love. Simply love him by caring for others.
I was talking with my kids this morning about this verse and how we want to help many Believers in so many ways but sometimes are powerless to do so. Like for Pastor Saeed who is imprisoned – we may lack an army of our own to go get him out, but we can pray for God to sustain him and his family. How about hungry people across the world – we maybe can’t feed them all, but we can adopt a family in Bolivia and feed some.
Remember those in prison, as if you were there yourself. Remember also those being mistreated, as if you felt their pain in your own bodies (Hebrews 13:3). There are some people I can’t physically impact, but I certainly can pray for others as a way to show God I love him. That counts too!
‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’
Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons. For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink. I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’ Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’
And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’
Dear God,
Thank you for blessing me so that I can bless others. Thank you for comforting me so that I can be a comfort to someone else. Thank you for caring for me so that I may care for people in need. Help me to be generous with my time and resources and prayers because you are generous and lavish with your love towards me. I love you so much and thank you for giving me lots of ways every day to show you that I love you by paying attention to the interests of others, praying for them, and helping them when I can. Thank you for how you operate your family, I love being a part of it, I love you, and I pray in Jesus’ name, amen.