A deeper Love for our Communities

Prepare: "This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins." (1 John 4:10) Thank God that he loved us even before we knew him.

Reflect: Take time to read these verses from the Bible slowly:

‘Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. ‘Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.’ (1 Corinthians 13:1-7) ‘

"You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.”’ (Matthew 5:43-48)

Respond: What occurs to you as you read these verses? What stands out? For me it is that love is both an attitude and an action. When we love in our actions and through our heart, something powerful is released, and our families, our homes, and our neighbourhoods can be totally changed.

• Spend time in silence and ask God to show each of you where your attitude towards people in your neighbourhood or family is less than loving. Ask his forgiveness and invite the Holy Spirit to change your heart.
• Make a special commitment to pray for those you find it hardest to love. (Praying for someone can be the quickest way to start loving them)
• Pray for situations in your neighbourhood where relationships are strained, where people are excluded or where people are treated with hostility.