Contagious Love
“... and let’s consider how to encourage one another in love and good deeds” Hebrews 10:24
Insight
We absorb more than we realize from the people we spend time with. Unless we are actively aware of what we are doing and what we are saying, we will slowly morph our behaviors and words towards those we are doing life with.
When I spend more time with my wife Denise than usual, I suddenly find myself enjoying Taylor Swift. When I spend more time with my basketball group, I suddenly remember that I should be in the NBA. When I spend more time with my toddler Ivey Brooks, I carry a goofy personality around and do the strangest things.
All of these serve as a reminder that not only am I impressible, but I also leave impressions on others. Our actions, our words, and our personalities can encourage others to live out similar actions and words.
This clearly sets up our lives to wrestle with a weighty question: what is our life impressing upon others to live out?
The author of Hebrews asked that we consider how to encourage others in love and good deeds. I am optimistic that most of the world would agree that we need more of this. We all hope others would be more loving and active in good deeds, sometimes forgetting that we are the ones who have to encourage it!
What I say, do, and live out encourages those that I do life with to do the same. If I feel as though everyone around me does not love well and does not participate in good deeds, I must start by looking at my own life.
How can I encourage others toward love and good deeds?
When I speak to those I love, am I speaking love and value, or sarcasm and belittling language?
When I chat with people about what I have done recently, can I inspire and spur them on toward a good deed?
We, as Christ followers, are called to a way of life that looks nothing like the world. Regardless of our circumstances, our call is to encourage others to love and to invest in others.
This starts with our individual participation. Good intentions do not create change. It is active participation that creates the change our hearts long for. So, if we want to see the world start to shift towards love and good deeds, we need to lead by example. Let’s allow our lives to be a spark for love and good deeds.
Reflection
What is your life encouraging others to participate in?
Take some time to gaze at Jesus, notice the ways he lived out love and good deeds towards those around him. Consider how the disciples followed, they saw, and they re-presented Jesus.
Prayer
Father, help me to learn your heart. Show me the ways that my life can be a spark and an encouragement for love and good deeds. I want to invest my life for others to see who you are, knowing that one more person reflecting you, means one more person who can get a glimpse of you. Let us be your people who start a ripple of love and good deeds in this world that no one can stop. I love you Father, and pray in your name, Amen.
Port City writer Davy Nance wrote today’s devotional.