ROMANS 1:11-12 – For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.

THEME OF THE DAY. EXPRESSING OUR LOVE FOR OTHER BELIEVERS. One of the astounding truths of salvation is that when God gave us new birth in His Son, the Lord Jesus, we are given the ability to fulfill our created purpose – love God. The Apostle Paul would start his letter to the Ephesians with this declaration of God’s first loving us so we could then pursue Him in a relationship of holy love – Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved (Ephesians 1:3-6). Notice the language of love in the Ephesians passage – in love He predestined us for adoption as sons (daughters) through Jesus Christ. It is language of family and relationships. When it comes to a simple understanding of salvation, it is God taking a people who were His enemies and had no desire for Him; then giving them a new heart with intense desires to love Him. This is the radical nature of becoming Christians. We go from alienation and no love for God to reconciliation and a love for God.

As we ponder this awe-producing truth, I want to connect it to the scripture of today under the question, “How may I really know I love God and that the change He made in me is real and true?” Now, I know there are many tests to validate our faith in Christ. In fact, reading 1 JOHN in its entirety offers many pieces of evidence giving us joy-producing assurance of personal salvation. One which sticks out through that wonderful letter is our love for other Christians. This is one of the most important truths about the true Christian; a sacrificial love for other Christians. Yet what would a sacrificial love for other Christians look like in the day-to-day living out of the Christian life? Today’s scripture offers us proofs of genuine love for other believers.

However, before we identify them, obedience to this scripture must be active in our lives – And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near (Hebrews 10:24-25). If we are not meeting regularly with other believers, please for the sake of our spiritual health, get alone with the Lord and find out why. Friends, the pandemic does not remove the responsibility to obey the command to be together. We are still under the authority of God’s Word. And remember, today in our world and throughout history, God’s people have always been called to “risky faith” in a dangerous world to live out the Christian life. Remember the martyrs. Remember the persecuted church around the world today. Now let’s identify one of the most important indicators in our lives we are loving God’s people.

The Apostle Paul’s example in today’s scripture of loving believers by investing in them for spiritual strength and encouragement is best expressed by praying for them and with them. Read his letters and see his investment of prayer for and with believers. From personal experience and church history, the most strengthening and encouraging thing we may do is pray for one another and with one another. And this is the greatest need in the church of Jesus Christ today. It is also one of the greatest, if not the greatest expression of love for Christians. After all, is this not what our Lord is doing right now for us? Think about it.

PRAYER: “Father, help me to never take for granted or worse, neglect, longing for, loving and investing in Your children.”

QUOTE: “Our love for Christ is real if we are loving His people which means being with them and investing in them.”