Loving Like Jesus – Family Devotion – October 22, 2021

Read: Hebrews 13:1-6

Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.
Hebrews 13:1-3

Loving Like Jesus

 

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

“Wait!” Aiden shouted. “Don’t go yet!” Aiden’s parents looked back at him from the front seat of their van with confused looks. Aiden rolled down the window next to his seat and held one of his cheeseburgers out the window. You see, Aiden saw a homeless man on the sidewalk next to their minivan. Even though he loved McDonalds, he wanted to be sure that this man had something to eat. Aiden’s parents smiled and offered the man something to eat as well.

Clearly Aiden had been learning from his parents. It was very common for their family to show love and kindness to other people. The family had guests at their home all the time. They even had students from other countries stay with them during the school year. The family donated used clothes to those who needed them, and they went a few times a year to serve food at a homeless shelter. Showing love to others was important to them. Aiden was learning to do the same.

Jesus has shown love to people who need it too—people like you and me! We needed his love after all the many sins we have committed. So Jesus showed us love in the most amazing way! Jesus gave himself to be the payment for our sins. His life and death won for us the gift of life with him in heaven, too. We didn’t earn this love. We don’t deserve it. But Jesus showed us love anyways.

Because Jesus has loved us so much, it is our privilege to show that kind of love to other people, just like Aiden and his family do. The Bible verses for today offer some ideas for how to do that. We can welcome people into our homes or show kindness to those in prison or in need. But there are so many more ways you can show love! You can share your lunch at school with someone who forgot theirs! You can help a classmate with an assignment they don’t get. You can donate toys or clothes or food to people in need. You can give offerings at church that will help spread God’s Word to those in need.

God has shown us so much love, and we can show so much love to others too! Look for opportunities in your regular everyday life to show love to others. When you do, you aren’t just showing your love, but you are showing the love of Jesus as well. So go! Live! Love! And let your light shine!

Closing Prayer:

Dear Jesus, help me to reflect your love to others in all that I think, say, and do. Help me to see opportunities for showing love to others. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

• Name one way you can show the love of Jesus to someone in your house or at school.
• Name one way you can show the love of Jesus to someone in your church.

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• Agree/Disagree: If you don’t have money to give, there aren’t many ways to show love for people in need. Explain your answer.
• Explain why showing love for someone else is also showing love for God.

Questions for Middle School and Above

• As a family, discuss ways that you could show love to people who are in need.
• Explain why helping someone in need might be a great way for a door to open so you can share God’s Word with them.

Hymn: CW 421:1,5 – All Depends on Our Possessing

All depends on our possessing God’s abundant grace and blessing,
Though all earthly wealth depart.
They who trust with faith unshaken In their God are not forsaken
And e’er keep a dauntless heart.

If on earth my days he lengthen, He my weary soul will strengthen;
All my trust in him I place.
Earthly wealth is not abiding, Like a stream away is gliding;
Safe I anchor in his grace.