A friend of mine and a loved one of mine are so good at picking up on the needs of others.  It amazes me how a segment of their life is all about using their gift of mercy to come along side of  those who have been in tough places and have real physical and spiritual  needs.  These women are an inspiration to me and they truly walk out the verse in Micah 6:8 that is really a verse for all of us!

He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

After reading through the minor prophets in the Old Testament, I came away with knowing how important it is to stay connected to the Father and then walk out my love for Him by loving others.  If Jesus said in six different verses in the New Testament that we are to “…love one another…” then I think it is a pretty important point to pick up on and to live out!

• John 13:34: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have love you, you also are to love one another.

  John 13:35:  “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

  John 15:12:  “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”

  John 15:17:  “These things I command you, so that you will love one another.”

  1 John 3:11:  “For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.”

  2 John 1:5:  “And now I ask you, dear lady–not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but the one we havce had from the beginning–that we love one another.”

• Are you getting the picture?  This is for the body of Christ today, right now! How are you doing with your part of the words above from Jesus?  I know we all don’t have the gift of mercy but let me ask you how you are doing with issues toward another?  You might be gifted in teaching or helps but if you are not living out the above “commandment” are you being effective?  Nothing we speak or do without the inspiration that comes from genuine care or concern amounts to a hill of beans if it isn’t lived out in us first.  I have heard it said that our pets know instinctively who is a dog or cat lover.  And that can be applied to people as well.  If we love each other and sincerely care, we will accomplish what Christ calls us to because we have taken seriously the mandate to “love one another“. 

  Lord, I know there are people that I struggle to love and I want that to change so that I can walk in Your ways, not my own.  Please stir in me a desire to let go of any misunderstandings and really desire to put love into practice.  I can call out to you when it gets difficult and if I listen to You, You will show me how!  Paul says it well in Romans that we are to “If possible, so far as it depends on you (me), live peaceably with all.”  When I purpose to live letting love be my motivation, you can use me to touch lives with Your words and minister to the hurting!