Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart. – 1 Peter 1:22

The above verse speaks about us purifying our souls in hopes to sincerely love our brothers and sisters. I think we accomplish that when we truly lay down our selfish wants and needs and seek to serve others first. The fact that we are living in such a “me” society is a true testament to how extremely skewed the real meaning of love has become. Love is now very conditional. There are motives. Strings attached. A love for self. What will you do for me? What will I get out of this? I deserve so much more. Don’t you know who I am? But God does not want us living in that frame of mind. Luke 6:31 states, “Treat others the same way you want them to treat you,” and that verse does not end with an “unless” or “if” clause. It is pretty straightforward. We need to love one another no matter what. It doesn’t matter if we are tired, or stressed, or if the other person was downright ugly to us. It does not matter if they are the same religion, color, or in the same tax bracket. They may have posted something on Facebook that totally rubbed us the wrong way, but we are called to love. This type of love isn’t a romantic,  emotional attachment to someone. God’s love serves regardless of circumstances. God’s love is a covenant that has no limitations. How can we fervently love one another from the heart? We can start small by putting our phone away and reading a book to our child. We can go big by giving up our much needed day of rest to help someone move. We need to relentlessly seek out ways to show others the love of Christ. From opening the door for someone with their hands full, to giving away everything we have to serve in another country, there is not an act too small or too large when we are trying to expand God’s Kingdom. Love is always the right avenue. Love always wins.

Dear God, John 13:35 states,”By this, all will know that you are My disciples, if you have a love for one another.” Help me to live this out loud. Please let me be so saturated in your love that it pours out of my heart and spreads to others. Help me to fervently love my friends, my family, my co-workers, and anyone else that I may come in contact with. Help me be still and listen so I can know what needs they are struggling to meet alone. Help me love. Amen.