God of GenerationsNäide

How to Serve God and Others

“Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God.” —1 John 4:7, NLT

As a child, one of my favorite things was listening to the stories of faith my dad shared with us. I was always amazed to see how God’s power and faithfulness had manifested in his life. It was so encouraging for me to see how his love for Jesus was evident in the way he loved and served others.

Now, as I develop my own relationship with Jesus, I have had the privilege to serve Him and witness the impact of sharing His love with others.

In 1 John 4:7 (NLT), the apostle John says, “Dear friends, let us continue to love one another.” This reminds us that we are called to love because we know God. Serving Him is not about striving to earn His love but about responding to the love He has given us. When we love, we follow the great commandment, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ . . . This is the first and greatest commandment” (Matthew 22:37–38, NIV). We are then instructed to: “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39, NIV). We serve and love God by serving and loving His people.

How do we serve others? One way is to show the same compassion and grace God shows to us each day. This grace and compassion are a sweet gift to share with others and it shows others the light of Christ (John 8:12).

Daniela Calveti

Who can you share God’s love with this week? In what areas can you serve Him in your church, your community, or your work?

Loving God, thank You for the love You’ve given me. May my life reflect Your grace. Please help me see others as You see them, with a lens of love and compassion. Amen.