Greater Love for Others

Daily Reading –

Ephesians 3:17-19 “17That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.”

Ephesians 1:15-21 “… 18The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints …”

John 15:13 “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

Ephesians 1:15-21 explains that it is through prayer that we see with the eyes of our hearts. So how can we open the "eyes of our hearts"?

First, by realizing the value of the gift we've been given in Christ. We have already seen that God's grace and forgiveness are available to all who call upon Him. We are in God's eternal debt because we have been forgiven, fully and freely. It's illustrated so powerfully, so beautifully in the story of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15. When that son who had rebelled and wasted his entire inheritance came home, his father ran to him and welcomed him home.

Second, we can see with the eyes of our hearts by praying for Christ's love to fill us. It is a characteristic of a person who knows Jesus and has experienced unconditional love, that they will extend that love to others. When your prayer life is active and full, when you are communing daily with God, you will begin to see others as God sees them.

The next time you find yourself angry, frustrated, or disappointed with someone, I challenge you to pray, "Lord, help me to see this person as You see him." The next time you are compelled to harbor bitterness or respond in anger, pause, and soak in the gravity of God's unconditional love for you.

Is God's love flowing from your life? Would someone recognize you as a believer in Christ by the love you have shown to others this week?

Make your prayer today centered upon love and how can you show it more to those around you.

“It is possible to move men, through God, by prayer alone.” - Hudson Taylor