Author: Nathaniel Colt

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Read: Luke 6:27–36

Loving your enemies and praying for people who hurt you seems like a crazy thing to do, right? Sometimes, people are just plain mean, and they do things that are wrong and hurtful. When you think about it, who really wants to be kind to someone who is mean? And yet, in the Bible verses today, Jesus said to do exactly that.

The Bible says that when we do good to others, without expecting anything in return, our reward in heaven will be great. The way Jesus wants us to treat people is very different from how others react to being wronged and hurt. It can be shocking to our enemies. And it can make them wonder what is different about us. That may give us an opportunity to share the love of Jesus with them.

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Read: Matthew 20:26–28

Even though Jesus is God, He was willing to leave heaven to come to earth and to be born. He could have demanded the best room in town and the most beautiful clothing money could buy. He could have lived His life on earth as a king, with money and riches and people waiting on Him hand and foot. But, He chose to hang out with all kinds of people. Some of those were outcasts, and He humbly lived His life here serving others and showing them God’s love.

Serving isn’t always fun. Sometimes it means doing things that we don’t really want to do, like scrubbing the toilets or letting someone else get the first pick. Serving requires putting others before ourself and having the kind of heart that wants others to have the best, even if it costs us. When we choose to put others first, we are showing them who Jesus is and our actions are showing them an example of Jesus’ love.

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Read: 1 John 3:16–18

A lifeguard’s job is to stand or sit by a body of water and carefully watch for people who are having trouble swimming. Once the lifeguard spots someone struggling, they immediately dive in to rescue the person. What good would lifeguards be if they just looked like lifeguards but did nothing to help those in danger of drowning?

Jesus is kind of like our lifeguard. He left heaven and gave His life for us. This shows us what real love is. There’s no doubt that He loves us, because He showed us by His actions. He wants us to show others the kind of love that He showed us. Jesus said that people would recognize His disciples by the love they show each other (John 13:35). When we show others we care by serving them, we are showing them an example of the kind of love that God has for us.

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Read: James 2:14–18

How would it make you feel if someone told you over and over again that you were their best friend, and yet, they never wanted to spend any time with you? What if you told your brother or sister every day how much you love them, but you also yelled and said mean things to them every day? Do you think they would have a hard time believing that you really love them?

The Bible asks the question, “What good is it, … if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions?” God doesn’t want us just to say we love Him or say we love others; He wants us to do something about it. If we aren’t willing to serve others and treat them the way God wants us to treat them, how is anyone going to know that we are really followers of Jesus? God doesn’t want other people to know we’re Christians only because we tell them; He wants us to show them.

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Read: 1 Timothy 6:17–19

What would you do with a million dollars? Maybe you would want to buy a new house or a beautiful new car. Perhaps you would like to go on an exciting vacation to a remote island and relax on the beach for a few weeks. Or, maybe you’d buy the latest and greatest video game system with every video game that was made for it. It would be really easy to rely on that money and to feel like you did not have to worry about how much things cost. That is, at least until the money was gone and you’re right back to where you started.

Even though you probably don’t have a million dollars to spend as you wish, the Bible does warn against trusting earthly things like money. Instead, you should trust God. He is the One who gives you money, talents and skills, and everything else you have. When you use those things for God’s plans and purposes, it is an act of worship to Him and you can experience life in the way He planned for you.

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Read: 2 Corinthians 8:1–5

There’s something really cool that happens when we wrap our head around how much God has given us. When we begin to think about how much love and patience He has with us, how much grace He has given us, plus all the physical things He has given us like a home, family and friends, and food on our table, it can blow our mind! Even when we are going through difficult times or we have a problem or we can’t do some things that other people get to do, we are still incredibly blessed.

The churches in Macedonia were struggling and the people were going through some difficult times. However, even though they didn’t have much, they were willing to give, even beyond what they could afford, in order to help other people. When we give generously in love and with the right kind of attitude, God will use us to bless those around us.

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Read: Luke 21:1–4

Imagine that a friend comes to visit you and they have a dozen cupcakes with them. These are the kind of cupcakes that are perfectly soft with just the right amount of icing on top of them. When they offer to give you one of their twelve cupcakes, it’s going to make you feel good and of course you would appreciate the gift. However, imagine another friend coming to visit you and they have one freshly baked, warm brownie. It’s the only one they have and yet they are willing to give it to you because they love you. Which friend actually gave you more—the friend who still had eleven other cupcakes after giving you one or the friend who gave you their one and only brownie?

Giving to God like the friend who was willing to give their only brownie or the woman who gave her two small coins is the most powerful giving. Sometimes it’s difficult for us to be generous in our giving, especially if there’s something else that we want for ourself. However, when we are willing to give all we have to God for Him to use, He can take that gift and do something incredible with it.

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Read: 2 Corinthians 9:6–8

Have you ever seen a farmer planting a field? If the farmer is stingy and plants just a few seeds in a field, the field will yield a small, sparse crop. However, if the farmer uses a generous amount of seed, the land will yield a generous crop. Which do you think is better?

God wants us to give generously out of what we have. He also cares about our attitude when we give. God doesn’t want us to give with a bad attitude and because we feel like we have to; He wants us to give with a cheerful heart, remembering that all we have comes from Him and He will always take care of us. When we remember how generously Jesus gave to us, it makes it easier for us to give generously in return out of a heart of love for God.