Love is an action. Paul wrote “Let all that you do be done in love.” 1 Cor 16:14
Today we direct our attention to one word in the above scripture. The word is “all.” I believe to God “all” literally means all as in everything. What does that look like in our everyday lives?
Does “all” include speaking loving, encouraging, supportive words to ourselves after we step on the scale and see the number’s gone up?
Does “all” mean choosing to say nothing when reading social media posts that hit a nerve?
Does “all” apply to the quality of work we do each day and how we respond to catty co-workers, demanding bosses, difficult clients, rude strangers or snippy spouses?
The answer to all of the above is “yes.”
Can you imagine how our world would look if everyone did all from a place of love? Doing all in love can be challenging sometimes, especially when we are on the receiving end of someone’s hurtful words or actions.
Christ said “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. Matt 5:43 – 45.
It’s easy to do acts of love to those who love us but not so much to those who’ve berated, betrayed rejected, lied to or took advantage of us, openly criticized, judged or spread rumors about us – those enemies of our joy, peace and happiness.
But “all” means “all” and includes “all.”
I think that must be why Christ told us to pray for those who hurt us. It’s not so much for them as it is for us. Praying puts us in His presence and that is where His peace resides.
What would today look like if we did everything in love? What words would we speak to others and ourselves? How would we act, what choices would we make, what thoughts would we think?
How would we show up in our lives today if we literally “let all” we did “be done in love?
Let’s find out. Let’s commit to doing all today in love, even when it’s challenging and see how our day goes, looks and feels.
Because love is action and all means all.
Sandra Hubbard
Word Wisdom
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor[a] and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you that you may be children of your Father in heaven.” Matt 5: 43 – 44
By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:35
Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. 1 John 3:18
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