God’s Love is Contagious
The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.”
Jeremiah 31:3
How would knowing that God’s love is contagious affect our reflection of his love and kindness to others? Have you ever experienced showing kindness to someone and later noticed that person showing kindness to someone else? Showing God’s love with kindness and encouragement can change a person’s thinking to a more kind attitude.
When we show God’s love to others by listening to them and uplifting them, they tend to feel better about themselves and reflect that good attitude. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. (1 Corinthians 12:7). The Holy Spirit fills our hearts with God’s love in a way that makes it natural for us to reflect his love to others. God’s love reaches hearts causing people to change.
We follow the Spirit reflecting God’s love to others, but God is the one who causes that love to reach the heart. He will place other Christians in a person’s path and God’s love continues to fill the heart. This is how love is contagious, through the power of God, but we are the ones who must plant the seed of love in others through a loving, caring, compassionate heart. Nothing grows without a seed, and we plant the seed.
I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing (John 15:5). Just as the branch feeds the vine, the Spirit feeds love into our hearts. Planting the seeds of love softens the heart and helps in leading people to Christ. And when a person receives Christ he or she becomes a new creation. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Therefore, knowing God’s love is contagious can aide us in reflecting his love and kindness, because it can immediately change someone’s attitude and open the door to lead someone to Christ. When we minister to others, remember that God’s love is contagious and has the greatest chance of changing people. So reflect God’s love and kindness with gentleness in your words, patience in listening, with a desire to encourage, and most of all showing respect with a caring heart.
Today, be conscious of reflecting God’s love through a caring heart and a listening spirit. Treat everyone with this loving attitude. The more Christ-like we become the more natural it is to reflect God’s love and caring heart.
Let’s Pray: Lord, guide me in the Spirit to reflect your love and caring heart to everyone, and motivate me to uplift and encourage others. Let Christ live in me pointing souls to accept Christ as their Savior. Help me to surrender to Christ so your power will work through me to save others. In Jesus’ name, Amen