Title: What is True Love?

Romans 13:8 (NIV) Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law."

Devotion: In Romans 13:8, Paul emphasizes the paramount importance of love, urging us to owe nothing to anyone except love. This love is not a mere feeling but an action, a commitment to fulfilling God's law through our relationships with others. True love extends beyond societal norms and expectations, reaching into the depths of compassion, forgiveness, and grace.

 Years ago, when I lived in Lugbe, a suburb in Abuja, there were several girls in a nearby building who lived by being picked up by men at night. Their noisy lifestyle and disregard for others often caused frustration among the neighbors, including myself and my husband.

  One day, the landlord had enough and evicted all the girls. While most found somewhere else to go, one girl remained homeless, keeping her belongings in our building corridor and sleeping there on most nights. The tenants, including my husband and I, planned to have her removed. But one tenant, a woman, asked a poignant question: *"What would you do if this girl were your daughter, sister, or relative?"* She reminded us that we too had made wrong choices in the past, yet God held us close and saved us. Her words echoed the teachings of Jesus, urging us to consider what He would do.

  Everyone fell silent, offering no solutions. However, the woman and her husband decided to house the girl in their modest apartment. They welcomed her, saying, "We know what you do for a living. Feel free to eat our food and use the other bedroom as long as you live here. We did not bring you in to judge you, but we will continue to pray for you." The girl, initially shocked, chose to stay home at nights, gradually abandoning her previous lifestyle. She joined the family for morning devotions and attended church with them on Sundays.

  Eventually, the couple helped her gain admission to a university, where she graduated at the top of her class and started a business. Today, her office proudly displays a photo of the couple with the inscription: "My parents, the only Christians I know.''

Reflection and Application:

 This story challenges us to understand the true essence of love. True love is not about loving only the beautiful or the righteous. It is about extending grace and compassion to those who are often judged and marginalized. Jesus exemplified this love by dying for us while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8). This is also sorted by Apostle John in 1 John 4:11- "Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another."

 True love requires us to forgive those who may not seem deserving of forgiveness. It is a sacrificial love that mirrors the love of Christ. Paul says in Ephesians 4:32 "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."

In conclusion, true love is shown through actions that reflect the heart of Christ. It involves loving those who are difficult to love, forgiving those who have wronged us, and offering grace to those who need it most.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, teach us to love others as You have loved us. Help us to show true love through our actions, extending grace, compassion, and forgiveness to those around us. May our lives be a testimony of Your love and mercy. In Jesus' name, Amen.

As we reflect on these words, let us commit to living out true love in our daily lives, fulfilling God's law through our actions and relationships with others. 

Feel free to share with your contacts. Shared by Dr Joel Olanrewaju.

Material copied from a WhatsApp message and supported with relevant bible verses. God bless the writer. Amen.