Love One Another
READ: 1 John 4:13-21
Johnny was a new boy at our school, but he was different from everybody else. He was born with Down's syndrome. Johnny's parents and doctors felt he was ready to go to a high school where healthy kids go. They had confidence he would do well and encouraged him every day.
He was doing very well in all his school subjects, but Johnny was hurting. Every day kids snickered and laughed and made fun of him because he was different. But there was one girl named Jessica who befriended him. She got to know him; and when she did, she discovered a really neat person inside. They became good friends and Jessica helped Johnny in any way she could. She showed him love.
Sometimes we tend to poke fun at those who are different. Perhaps they dress funny, or act strangely. These labels can hurt a person a lot more than you would think. God has commanded us in John 13:34, "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another."
Try to put yourself in their shoes and visualize the difficulties they may be experiencing. Instead of making fun of them, without really knowing them, get to know them and show them kindness and consideration. In John 15:13, God tells us, "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."
If you know someone who is hurting, or who is doing the hurting, remind this person of the love God has for him/her. In verse 16, we are told that "God is love" and that "We love because He first loved us." Go and show others the same love that God has shown you. Whoever loves God must love his brother.
THINGS TO THINK ABOUT: Can we love God yet still hate our brother? Is there fear in love? How has Jesus showed his love for us?
PRAYER SUGGESTIONS: Thank God for the love He showed you. Ask Him for help in showing that same love to others. Pray for someone who is hurting because of the cruelty and hatred fellow peers have showed him/her.