FCA ResourcesDevotional
Why We Listen
Ready
“So now I ask you, dear lady—not as if I were writing you a new command, but one we have had from the beginning—that we love one another. This is love: that we walk according to his commands. This is the command as you have heard it from the beginning: that you walk in love.” – 2 John 1:5-6
Set
When my husband took over coaching a new team, his first task was to earn the respect of his players. Why? Because they wouldn’t want to listen to and follow him if they didn’t respect him.
It is much easier to follow a leader you respect and love over one you do not. Think back to when you had a coach you respected. Was it easier to listen to them? What about when you had one you didn’t respect?
From the start, God has had the same command for His people here: love one another. It is a simple instruction that is very difficult to implement. If it is so hard, then why, as Christians, do we strive to follow it? Hopefully, you do it because you love God and respect Him.
If you walk through your life trying to love people simply because you are told to do it, I bet you won’t be very successful. On the other hand, if you walk each day choosing to love other people because you love and honor God and want to follow His command, you will have a much higher rate of success.
In our faith, we frequently do what we are told out of fear or blind obedience. This might produce the right outward action, however, our heart isn’t in it. We act and obey with joy when we follow God’s commands out of love and respect for Him. When our actions are completed with a joyful heart, the fruit produced is much greater.
Before we can follow God’s command to love one another, we must first fall in love with God Himself.
Go
- Do you follow God’s commands out of fear or love?
- Do you find it hard to love other people?
- What is one way you can show love to someone else today?
Overtime
“Lord God, we desire to follow Your commands because we want to bring joy to You. You delight in Your children following You; we want You to be delighted. Help us love others not because it is a command but because we desire to advance Your Kingdom here on earth. Amen.”
Group