Five devotions to help you share God’s love for the poor

Links to all devotions in the series
1. Ownership
2. Power to help
3. Help for the poor
4. Love in action
5. Love’s reward 

Devotion 5: Love’s reward

Read

27 “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.

32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. 35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

Luke 6:27-36

Consider

We all want that warm feeling inside that comes with helping someone in need, and to hear from them how much they appreciate us. But real life isn’t always like this. The people we are to help are sometimes our enemies, who hate us and mistreat us. Even after showing them love, they won’t always be appreciative of our sacrifice.

But we don’t love them for the warm fuzzies, or to be rewarded by them. This is not how God loved us. Instead, we should be content with loving people, simply knowing that we are seen by our Father, who loved us first.

There are two good strategies for growing in love for difficult people. First, consider Jesus, who laid down his life for you, his enemy. Second, pray for the difficult person.

Question

1. Who do you find it hard to love?
2. How does considering God’s love for you help you love these people?

Pray

Loving heavenly Father, you have shown great love to me, even when I was your enemy. And your love for me is steadfast. Give me strength to love my enemies and those who hate me. Remind me of your constant presence, and the reward you have stored for me and all your children.
Amen.