Scripture
So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.
John 13: 34-35 (NLT)
God has a specific call for each of us in our lives. Some days figuring out what that is can be difficult. Some days it is simple.
Some days it even changes! The bottom line is that no matter where you are in finding your call, we all need to take a step back and look at the basics. “Love each other”. That’s the commandment Christ gives in John 13. Many today think that just their actions can show love. And while yes, actions can show love, take a second to read 1 Corinthians 13:1-3. Actions are important, but without love laced through those actions it is meaningless.
So how do we include love and action in our call? An example of someone who embodies this in multiple ways is Philip in Acts 8 (verses 4-6 and 26-40). Philip went to Samaria and immediately started helping the city in any way he could. While doing this, he spoke to them about Christ. Love had to be mixed in because the “crowds listened intently”.
I don’t know about you, but I don’t tend to listen long to someone full of hate. Philip is then called away to a completely different and even more personal mission. He speaks one on one with a man who is trying to understand the words in the book of Isaiah. Instead of making the man figure it out on his own and move one with his own busy schedule, Philip stops and spends time with the man. He works on helping him to understand the words that then man is reading.
Philip helps us to see that no matter where God calls us, we need to be prepared with love. In groups, like camp, our actions are laced with it. In our more personal conversations, it completely overwhelms it.
Reflection Questions
- What has God been calling you to recently?
- Think back to a time where you have answered God’s call/worked toward His call. How did you show love?
- Have you ever experienced a time where in working in your call you look back and think “I wish I done this instead. I could have shown more love.”? How could you change if the same situation arose again?
Prayer
If you have felt God’s calling, ask Him to open doors and reveal to you how to show love through that situation. If you are still asking God about your call, ask Him to reveal what He would have you do and how you can show love in your waiting for an answer. Ask God to specifically reveal how you can show love at camp.