Love for Others

He (a follower of Christ) has told us about the love for others that the Holy Spirit has given you. So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of His will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better. We also pray that you will be strengthened with all His glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to His people, who live in the light. Colossians 1:8-12 NLT

The Holy Spirit gives us love for others—others for whom we may not be so inclined as to love. Shortly after I become a Christian I had that experience of loving an unlovable person. There was a lady in a group I belonged to with whom it was so hard for anyone to get along. I earnestly prayed that I could at least tolerate her…maybe even like her. Amazingly enough we became friends. That was only due to the work of the Holy Spirit. I’ve lost track of her over the years—but then I haven’t done very well at keeping in touch with many family and friends as we’ve moved around in the last forty years. I still pray for them…just like Paul. I pray that my friends—and family—will have spiritual wisdom and understanding.  If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and He will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. James 1:5 NLT.  Through that spiritual wisdom and understanding will come an understanding of His will.

• Jesus said…For it is my Father's will that all who see His Son and believe in Him should have eternal life. I will raise them up at the last day." John 6:40 NLT
• Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 NLT
• For God's will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time. Hebrews 10:10 NLT

So we praise God for the glorious grace He has poured out on us who belong to His dear Son. He is so rich in kindness and grace that He purchased our freedom with the blood of His Son and forgave our sins. He has showered His kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding. God has now revealed to us His mysterious plan regarding Christ, a plan to fulfill His own good pleasure. Ephesians 1:6-9 NLT.  

Prayer ~ Holy Spirit, show us how to love others—to love others for the Lord. Continue to give us spiritual wisdom and understanding that we would know God better and please Him in all that we think, do and say. Thank you—Thank you—Thank you for all you do in my life.

© 2015 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

All scripture quoted from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) unless otherwise noted.

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