And this is his commandment: We must believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he commanded us. 1 John 3:23
In her Pulitzer prize-winning novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee wrote, "You never know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around in them." My sister recently reminded me of this quote, and now I want to have this quote written down on a sign in my apartment. You see, in a world that is quick to judge and make assumptions, abundant grace is necessary. Because it's true. We never truly know a person until we put on another person's shoes, and walk around in them. Scripture reminds us of this in 1 John chapter 3.
Chapter three of 1 John comes to a close as John writes, "We must believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he commanded us" (verse 23). In this verse, John reminds us, once more, of the importance of having love for people. Part of loving people, as we have discussed, is showing consideration for others. This means thinking about people. It means not rushing to judgment. It means being willing to understand that your perspective is not the only perspective.
Helping us understand what this kind of love looks like, Paul writes about how we can model Christ-like love in Philippians 2. "Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don't look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too" (verses 3-4). This verse clearly states what it looks like to "stand in [another person's] shoes and walk around in them." It means developing a habit of thinking about other people and seeing things from their perspective. It also means not rushing to assume the worst about a person and immediately judge them. Finally, this verse teaches that having this kind of love for another person means looking out for other people's interest, not just our own interests.
When you think about your own life, do you demonstrate the kind of love that looks out for other people, not just yourself? Are you willing to look at a situation from another person's perspective or just your own? If you are like me and realize there is much room for improvement, it's not too late. Let's start practicing this kind of considerate love today.
Take time today to go on a walk and be out in nature. As you go, spend time reflecting on these questions: How can I better see people? How can I choose consideration instead of criticism? What can I do to be more thoughtful of what people are going through? Then, write down the things you think about in a notebook or journal and put them into practice!
Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.
Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.
You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.
Though he was God,
he did not think of equality with God
as something to cling to.
Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;
he took the humble position of a slave
and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,
he humbled himself in obedience to God
and died a criminal’s death on a cross.
Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor
and gave him the name above all other names,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.
Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless. But I will rejoice even if I lose my life, pouring it out like a liquid offering to God, just like your faithful service is an offering to God. And I want all of you to share that joy. Yes, you should rejoice, and I will share your joy.
If the Lord Jesus is willing, I hope to send Timothy to you soon for a visit. Then he can cheer me up by telling me how you are getting along. I have no one else like Timothy, who genuinely cares about your welfare. All the others care only for themselves and not for what matters to Jesus Christ. But you know how Timothy has proved himself. Like a son with his father, he has served with me in preaching the Good News. I hope to send him to you just as soon as I find out what is going to happen to me here. And I have confidence from the Lord that I myself will come to see you soon.
Meanwhile, I thought I should send Epaphroditus back to you. He is a true brother, co-worker, and fellow soldier. And he was your messenger to help me in my need. I am sending him because he has been longing to see you, and he was very distressed that you heard he was ill. And he certainly was ill; in fact, he almost died. But God had mercy on him—and also on me, so that I would not have one sorrow after another.
So I am all the more anxious to send him back to you, for I know you will be glad to see him, and then I will not be so worried about you. Welcome him in the Lord’s love and with great joy, and give him the honor that people like him deserve. For he risked his life for the work of Christ, and he was at the point of death while doing for me what you couldn’t do from far away.
