Be A Reflection Of His Love

A question that has been on my heart lately is: What do people see when they look at my life? Do they see Jesus? Or do they see the world?

As Christians, we are called to reflect Christ in everything we do, but sometimes I wonder if the way I live actually reflects the love I say I have received from Him.

Jesus gives us a commandment in John 13:34-35. He says, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."

My love for others should be a direct reflection of Jesus' presence in my life. It shouldn't only be seen when life is easy or someone did something for me first; it should also be seen in the moments of frustration, impatience and even in the moments when the last thing I want to do is show love.

Because we are so deeply loved by Him, we are given the opportunity to let that love overflow into the lives of those around us.

What would my life look like if it was a reflection of His love? What if the way I spoke was to speak life into another, instead of tearing them down? What if I forgave instead of holding a grudge, just as I have been forgiven of my sins? What if I served others instead of only worrying about myself and what benefits me? What if my actions and my words gave someone else a glimpse of Jesus that they would not have seen otherwise?

I don't want to simply tell others that Jesus loves them. Words can only go so far. I want them to experience His love through me.

We are able to love because He first loved us. We were never expected to create this kind of love on our own.

1 John 4:7-13 says, "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent His only Son into the world, so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and His love is perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit."

This is such a powerful verse that really just shows the beauty and grace of God. People may not be able to physically see God, but they can see His love through the way we love one another. When we choose grace instead of anger, forgiveness instead of bitterness, kindness instead of being mean, and selflessness instead of selfishness, we are showing the world a glimpse of who God is.

We don't love others perfectly because we aren't perfect. We love because we have experienced a love that is greater than anything we could ever imagine. Christ loved us first. He loves and forgives us even when we don't deserve it. He died on the cross so we could experience this kind of love.

When people encounter me, do my words and actions point them toward Jesus? Does the way I treat people give them a glimpse of His character? Am I representing the love, grace, forgiveness and kindness that I have received from Him?

I want my life to be more than a declaration that I believe Jesus loves people. I want my life to be a reflection of that love.

Let me be proof of His love.

Not because I love perfectly, but because His perfect love is living in me.

As you spend time with the Lord today, ask Him to show you where His love can be more evident in your life. Invite Him to work in your heart and bring these words before Him.

I pray that when people encounter me, they don't just see who I am, but they see a reflection of who Jesus is. I pray that my words would speak life, my actions would show kindness, my forgiveness would reflect His grace, and my love would point others back to Him. I know I will never love perfectly, but I don't have to. I have already been perfectly loved by the One who calls me to love others. So, Lord, let my life be a reflection of Your love. Let me be proof of Your love to the people You place around me. And when someone encounters me, may they leave having experienced a little more of You.

Quiet Time Questions 💬

• Who is someone in my life that I find difficult to love right now? What would it look like to love them the way Jesus has loved me?
• What is one practical way I can show God's love to someone this week instead of simply telling them about His love?
• When people encounter me, what do they see?
• Do my words and actions reflect Jesus or the world?