Big Takeaway: Your genuine affection toward others matters more than you may know.
Have you ever had a friend go through a difficult season?
One of my closest friends is going through one right now. As an onlooker, it feels like she keeps receiving blow after blow, and it breaks my heart. Our friend group constantly asks how we can help, and this past week we got an answer.
She needed help cleaning her house.
One by one, friends arrived at her doorstep with paper towels, a vacuum, cleaning supplies, and smiles, ready to be put to work. One friend started cleaning the kitchen, another swept and mopped the floors, and another scrubbed the bathroom.
The windows and mirrors were up for grabs, so I reached for a roll of white paper towels and a bottle of blue Windex and started spraying. After a few minutes of cleaning alongside these women, I felt the Holy Spirit whisper, “This is what being the hands and feet of Jesus looks like.”
It’s seeing a need and meeting a need with no questions asked.
It’s dropping your pride so that you can ask for help when you need help.
It’s maintaining a willing spirit, one that will serve and honor people who are in need.
I think that’s what Paul meant when he wrote the words we read in Romans 12:9-10 (NLT),
“Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.”
I don’t know about you, but with Christmas right around the corner, these verses feel fitting to cling to as we celebrate the ultimate love of our Savior, Jesus.
Whether you have a friend going through a hard time or not, I hope and pray you have the courage to honor God in how you love people over the next couple of weeks.
Love may require you to clean a mess you didn’t make. Love may also require you to walk into another room so that you don’t say something unkind to a family member.
Both choices require you to show love, right?
Whatever it is God asks of you, I pray His Word comes to life for you in the same way it came to life for me as I watched my friends love and serve.
Your genuine affection toward others matters more than you may ever know!
Merry Christmas and I'll see you in 2022!
Reflect:
Try to memorize Romans 12:9-10 (NLT) this week: “Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.”
Show someone how important they are by serving them this week. Maybe this means bringing up your neighbor’s trash can, doing a chore for your spouse they don’t enjoy doing, or giving someone something you know they need. Remember, don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them!