Daily Devotional - Persistent Prayer - Week 36 - Day 246 - Month of Prayer Day 3 - 9/3/25 - "Love As Christ Loves"

Author: Evangelist Jamie Hoffman

“Love As Christ Loves”
Scripture: John 15:12-13, NIV

“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

Devotion:
In today’s Scripture, Jesus is commanding His disciples to love the way He loves. Jesus’ love is sacrificial, unconditional, and costly. Jesus paid the ultimate cost and laid down His life to redeem us back to God. He didn’t have to do it. But I am so glad He did. When I lived in Virginia, I wrote a poem to recite for the Easter program at my church, entitled, “Jesus, Born to Die.” As I wrote it, I remembered thinking what it would be like to live your entire life knowing that the purpose of your birth was to unjustly die, not just die, but be crucified and suffer by the hands of the same people you came to save. Can you imagine? His sacrifice was a clear representation of unconditional agape love. Romans 5:8 states, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Jesus didn’t say I am going to die just for my disciples who followed and believed in me or just for the followers who heard the Word and received it. He died for us all, even when we were a hot mess and didn’t even know we needed saving. Jesus is calling us to love like He loves. He is calling us to love people beyond our own feelings, emotions, and desires. He is calling us to love those who hate us, misuse us, talk about us, mistreat us. But! He is not calling us to do it alone. The Holy Spirit enables us to do what our deceitful flesh won’t. He allows us to love like Jesus loves. All we have to do is tap into the power of God and let His love lead and guide us.

Prayer:
Lord, help us rely on Your power and strength to love our brothers and sisters unconditionally. Help us to be led by Your Spirit and not our flesh. Let our love reflect Your love for us. Amen.