Daily Delight
What makes you stand out?
We can express our personal individuality in a million ways, but how do we express our uniqueness as followers of Christ? John said it best in John 13:35: "By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another" (ESV).
As disciples of Jesus, love is our defining characteristic.
"...But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful." -Luke 6:32-36 (ESV)
True love is not mutual friendship, and it’s not goodwill exchanges. Rather, love in its rawest form is loving people who are hard to love, doing good to those who have not “earned” it, and giving freely, without expecting anything in return. Let’s be honest- this kind of love is contrary to human nature. Most people cannot extend it because they’ve never experienced it- but we as Christians have!
Christ demonstrated his radical, stand-out love for the world on the cross. Before we even knew him, he loved us enough to die for us. As his followers, we are called to love the world radically as well. By loving our enemies, doing good to all and lending without expecting in return, we reflect the heart of Jesus to the world!
Do something to stand out today. Give to someone who cannot give anything back to you. Love someone who has hurt you. Show kindness to someone that everyone else ignores. Choose mercy, just like God chooses to be merciful.
About the Author
Kirsten Fernandes
