The Bright Side of Relating
Agape Anyway – Part 2

Scripture Reading:  1 John 4:8-14

Key Verse: 1 John 4:7

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.

All of us know the three key words of real estate: location, location, location.  Someone else said the three words of love are observe, observe, observe.  In other words, ignoring needs of those around us is a form of meanness not love.  Psychologists tell us that children would rather accept the punishment of bad behavior than be ignored.  Getting our attention is often the real motive of the behavior—good or bad.

            If we are going to connect and stay connected to people we are related to, we can’t ignore them.  We may not intentionally do that, but it can be a result of not intentionally observing their lives.  Often the best way of relating to anyone is to see something they need and meet it without their asking.  These random acts of kindness can open doors that have been shut for many years.

            God didn’t wait for us to ask before He sent His son to die for our sins.  He observed our need and set in place a plan to meet our needs.  Let’s determine to be more observant today.  Look—really look—at the ones you are related to.  It’s so easy to take these relationships for granted.  If you truly look, my guess is you will observe a need or a hurt that you could help heal.  The Bible is right: It is more blessed to give than receive.

Father, thank you for being so generous with me, giving me so much without asking.  Remind me to pass this on to those around me.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.