Devotional

We often misunderstand love. In our culture, love is frequently portrayed as a feeling, an emotion that comes and goes. We say we “fall in” and “fall out of” love, as if it’s something that happens to us rather than something we choose. But Jesus presents a radically different view of love. When He commands us to love one another as He has loved us, He’s not talking about feelings. He’s talking about action, about choice, about sacrifice. Jesus loved His disciples by washing their feet—even the feet of Judas, who would betray Him. He loved them by serving them, by putting their needs above His own comfort and dignity. And ultimately, He loved them by going to the cross, taking upon Himself the punishment they deserved. This kind of love transforms both the giver and the receiver. When we choose to love others as Christ loved us—when we serve them, forgive them, sacrifice for them—we are changed. Our hearts grow more like His. Our priorities shift. Our perspective widens. And those we love are changed too. They experience the tangible presence of Christ through our actions. They see a love that doesn’t depend on their performance or worthiness. They encounter grace in human form. This transformative love is what sets Christ’s disciples apart. It’s not our knowledge, our religious practices, or even our moral behavior that identifies us as followers of Jesus. It’s our love—our Christ-like, self-giving love—that marks us as His own.

Bible Verse

“By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” – John 13:35

Reflection Question

Think about someone in your life who is difficult to love. What would it look like to love this person as Christ has loved you—not based on feelings, but on choice and action?

Quote 

“We get all hung up on this word love. And it’s not so much that we are loving as we want to be loved. And we go about all sorts of mental calisthenics and physical activities just to be loved. And unfortunately, in today’s world, that love always fails. It fails because it’s not about what we receive, but more about what we give.”

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for loving me not because of who I am, but because of who You are. Help me to love others with that same transformative love—not dependent on feelings or circumstances, but rooted in Your character and example. Give me the strength to love even those who are difficult to love, and let Your love flow through me to change both them and me. Amen.