Feb 20: The How matters more than the What.

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

If every Christian in this world reminded themselves at the start of each day “I need to love others just like Jesus did”, then this world would have looked a lot different already. Of course, life is not as simple as that. A broken world, with sinful natures abounding all around, it is not easy by any means to love like Jesus did. But then love wouldn’t mean much if everyone around was perfect, would it?

The reason the love of Jesus stands apart from the love of man is due to the very fact that He loved us in our brokenness and weaknesses and all. He loved us with our imperfections, and far-from-perfect character. He keeps loving us despite our rejections and our rebellions against Him. He choses us for monumental out-of-this world tasks despite our inabilities. And best of all, He died for us while we were still deep in our sins. Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

In today’s devotional scripture, Jesus says that the world will know that you and I are His disciples through our love for one another. That is the highest mark of a true disciple of Christ. That is also the standard by which we will be judged by God Himself. That is why apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 13 emphasizes that the greatest gift of all is love.

So, what does the love of Jesus look like in everyday life? If you meditate on 1 Corinthians 13, you will find that love has less to do with the what you do, and more to do with the how you do it. For example, you give large sums of money to help someone in need, but if the act is without love, then it’s in vain (1 Cor 13:3). Or you teach the Bible at Sunday School, but if its without love, it doesn’t really count. Whatever the act is (especially the ones done in the name of God), if its not delivered in love – its pointless! The how we do it matters, more than the what we do.

Take some time to think about how you approach things in life. What’s the attitude surrounding the action?

• Are you being patient with it? Or do you just want to get it done as move on?

• Are you being kind to the person involved? Or are you rude?

• Are you wanting the other person to truly succeed? Or is there some jealousy within?

• Are you humble about what you are doing? Or do you like boasting about it to a few people?

Put the brakes and take the time to analyse your life. Think about the how you are doing it. And take corrective action. Whatever you do, do it with love. Season it with grace. By this the world will truly know that you are a disciple of Jesus Christ.

Here’s a simple yet powerful scripture to memorize:

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. 

– 1 Corinthians 3:4.