Day 19: Incarnate Opportunity
Have you ever noticed how easy it is to love others when you are alone? Isn’t it relatively effortless to love people who agree with you? Unfortunately, or fortunately, not everyone agrees with me and I rarely experience an extended time of being alone. That means that I’m often in situations where I can practice what I preach. I like how 1 John 4:20 reads:
If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar, for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.
The life and faith that Jesus invites us into are not merely a philosophy or knowledge to embrace. Jesus is the incarnation of God, meaning He embodied the fullness of God on earth as in heaven. He said the greatest command is to love God and the second is like it, to love your neighbor as yourself. Jesus completely fulfilled these two commandments and in doing so, fulfilled every commandment of God. We are invited to incarnate the love of God that we generously received from Jesus. Practically, that looks like loving people.
As we consider others this week, may we see each person, regardless of how challenging or agreeable they may be, as an opportunity for us to incarnate the love of God. In doing so we will grow in the likeness and image of Jesus and we will give space for the kingdom of God to be expressed through us as it is in heaven.
Scripture Reading – 1 John 4:16-21
Prayer Prompts:
- Ask God for a fresh revelation of His love. Take a deep breath and rest as He fills your mind with His truth.
- Imagine with God what it would look like for you to incarnate His love as you go about your day. Let Him give you fresh ideas to demonstrate the love you first received from God.
