Monday, May 12, 2025

New Testament Reading Plan: Acts 16

Relationships with others can be hard. Whether it’s with a sibling, neighbor, partner, or colleague, every relationship comes with its own unique challenges. 

When I was younger, my brother and I would fight over everything, especially who would sit in the front seat of the car. I was the older sister, so for a while, he was too little to sit up front. But as he grew, we turned to scheming and bargaining in order to have our way. We loved each other, but our love came with a list of conditions the other had to follow. 

As an adult, I’ve learned that faith isn’t just about knowing what the Bible says - it’s about putting Jesus’ teachings into action. One of his commands is to love deeply, with all of our heart, soul, and mind - both God and the people around us. 

Matthew 22:36-40
Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”

We often don’t get Jesus’ instructions right. Although we want to be loved without conditions, so much of the love we give to others demands something in exchange. We love others … but our love comes with strings attached. 

Our default is to search for what we can get out of the relationship, rather than how we can bless others. However, this is not how God calls us to love. He set a perfect example for us through his Son, Jesus, and we are encouraged to similarly demonstrate our love for others - in ways that meet their needs, rather than our own. 

What does this look like? It could mean giving your undivided attention to a sibling, sharing a meal with a neighbor, cleaning up for your significant other, or asking a colleague about their family. 

We all want to experience selfless, unconditional love - the kind of love that God pours into us and calls us to pour into others, but it’s only possible when we are entirely connected with Christ. This brings us to our Bottom Line: Jesus invites us to align our love FOR and FROM with his truth.

Questions:
How can you meet someone’s needs this week? 

What does the commandment to love God and people mean to you? 

Who do you need God to help you love this week? 

Next steps:
Give your mom a hug or write her a note to celebrate Mother’s Day. 

Ask someone you don’t typically interact with a question to get to know them better. 

Provide for someone in a way that you feel you needed as a child. 

Prayer:
God, help me to love not out of what I want from someone but to love in a way that is entirely for them. Show me what people need, and equip me to meet that need. I pray that I will give myself and others grace for when we fall short. Amen.

Series Theme Verse:

John 8:31-32
Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

This post was written by Becca Roberts, a West attendee, and a regular contributor to the Daily LivingItOut.