By David ReayWednesday 25 Jun 2014LifeWords DevotionalsCultureReading Time: 0 minutes
Transcript:
Read Galatians 5:13-14
13 For you have been called to live in freedom,my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead,use your freedom to serve one another in love. 14 For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbour as yourself.” (NLT)
Every follower of Jesus recognises that loving God and one another is primary. But we also need to recognise that when it comes to loving others,our love can take different forms. We are all called on to love,but given our uniqueness we may express that love differently.
Some are wonderful listeners who show love by patiently hearing the life concerns of others. Some are practical doers who show love by making a meal or buying a gift. Others show love by financial generosity or writing a poem or offering counsel.
We are wired differently and so will express love differently. So we need not chastise ourselves if we don’t ‘love’ in all ways possible. Our limitations remind us of the importance of the Christian church: we can’t love in all ways needed but can assume others can show love in ways we cannot.
It is right and proper that we want others to love us,but we dare not burden them with the unreal expectation that their love will meet all our needs or embrace all that love implies. The person who does your shopping may be an impatient listener. The person who writes encouraging notes to you might not be able to fix your computer.
Let us love one another,but let us recognise that love speaks many languages.
Blessings
David Reay