What’s Most Important
“All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up. Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor. 1 Corinthians 10:23-24
Insight
Reflection is such a powerful tool. I hope you have found moments in life where you have looked back and thought, “Wow. Look how far I have come!”
I think about this every day when it comes to my walk with Jesus. I grew up with a family that pastored and went to church at every opportunity, so I guess you could say I had an “advantage.” But over the last couple of years, I have been uprooting and deconstructing the relationship I had with Jesus growing up.
What Paul wrote in these verses are a significant reason why I had to do some reconstruction. I grew up with an extremely black and white version of faith. As I continue to mature in my faith, I realize there is a ton of gray through the Scriptures. But the one black and white reality of Scripture is how we are to reflect Jesus in this world.
Despite what some Christian teachings may push, knowing more of the Bible does not make you reflect Jesus more. Going to church more does not help you reflect Jesus better. The one reality that makes you and I reflect Jesus more is this:
Love.
We try to complicate this. Think about the Greatest Commandment(s) Jesus gave: Love God with everything, and love others the same. Think about how Jesus said others would see we are His disciples: “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35). So, when we want to reflect Jesus and mature our faith, we must love. We are to not only love the easily lovable, but also those that make it difficult.
Paul’s challenge in these verses is for us to enter other’s lives so they can see the love of Jesus. When you enter a conversation with someone, especially if the conversation is heated or if the person you are engaging with is a tougher person to love, consider these 2 questions in your mind, “Are the words I am about to say helpful, and do they build up the other person?”
The answer to those questions will help you learn how to reflect Jesus. So often we can be correct and have the right words in conversation but have the wrong heart. But we must resist the temptation to trade rightness for love. Jesus modeled the fullness of being right and being love, and He made sure every conversation was saturated with both.
Another question we all need to wrestle to the ground is whether we want to be known for our opinions or remembered for our love.
If we want to be known for our opinions, then we continue to allow our rightness to wear people down. But if we want to be remembered for our love, then it starts with our love for our Savior. The only person who was able to perfectly love their enemy was Jesus. Jesus died on a cross and came back to life to turn enemies into friends, and if we are going to live the new life Jesus has given us, then we must love our enemies. Loving enemies is not putting yourself in harmful and unsafe situations; but it is a willingness to pray for them and reflect Jesus.
There is nothing easy about this way of life, and Jesus would agree. Jesus does not ask us to live in such a way because He made it look so easy, He did it so we could see it would be impossible without Him!
Jesus empowers us to love others and not prioritize our rightness. May we see the beauty in being helpful to others, in building up others, and in loving others.
Reflection
How do you respond to loving those around you, especially your enemies?
How can the love of Jesus help the people around you?
Prayer
Father, thank you for leading by example. There is no power or strength within me to love others the way You have called me to. It is only by the power and strength of Your Spirit within me that makes loving others possible. Let every word, action and move from me reflect Your love. And when I am tempted to treat others the way they deserve, may I remember that You treated me with love when I deserved punishment. Thank you for immeasurable love Father, in Your name, Amen.
Port City writer Davy Nance wrote today’s devotional.
