Bible Verse
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There is something uncomfortable about being told to love someone we would rather avoid. Most of us have no problem loving people who are kind to us, but the real test comes when we are called to serve someone who has hurt us, let us down, or simply makes our lives harder. This devotional and prayer will push us to take an honest look at how we decide who gets our love, and why that choice matters far more than we may think.
Short Devotional
On the night Jesus was betrayed, he did something that should stop us in our tracks. He got down on his knees and washed the feet of every person in that room, including the one who had already made a deal to hand him over to his enemies. That means Jesus looked Judas in the eyes, took his dirty feet in his hands, and served him anyway.
It is easy to love the people who show up for us, who cheer us on, and who make us feel good about ourselves. But what about the coworker who takes credit for our work, the family member who always seems to disappoint us, or the friend who walked away without an explanation? Jesus did not just set a high bar for love; he completely changed what love is supposed to look like, and asking God to help us reach that standard is exactly where we need to start.
Let's Pray
Heavenly Father,
I come to you knowing that you see everything inside of me. You see the people I love easily and the people I have quietly pushed away.
Your Word tells me to love others the way Jesus loved me, and I know that kind of love is hard.
Forgive me for only giving my best to the people who make it easy. Forgive me for deciding in my heart that some people are not worth the effort.
Help me remember that Jesus washed the feet of the man who was about to hand him over to his enemies, and he did it with love.
Give me the strength to serve people who have hurt me. Give me eyes to see them the way you see them. Soften the hard places in my heart that have built up toward certain people.
I do not want to love with conditions. I want to love the way the cross shows me love can look.
Teach me to let go of the scorecards I keep and replace them with grace.
Thank you for never giving up on me even when I made it hard. Transform me.
In the name of Jesus, Amen.
Journaling Prompts
Think of one person in your life right now who you find it hard to love. What is it about them that makes love feel difficult, and what would it look like to serve them this week without expecting anything in return?
Jesus washed Judas's feet knowing Judas was about to betray him. If you knew someone was going to let you down, would you still choose to serve them? What does your honest answer tell you about the kind of love you are actually living out?
Imagine standing in the same room as Jesus on the night he washed feet. Knowing what you know about Judas, what would your response have been? What does that reaction reveal about where your heart still needs to grow?
The kind of love Jesus calls us to is not easy, but it is the most powerful thing we can offer to a hurting world. It does not start with a feeling; it starts with a choice to get on our knees and serve even when every part of us wants to walk away. Let that choice begin today, with the very person who came to mind while reading this.
Until next time,
May the Lord bless you and keep you;
May He make His face shine upon you;
And be gracious to you and give you peace.
God Bless!
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