2016 – Anchored
Anchored… In Love

DEVOTIONAL

“Honor your father and mother; and love your neighbor as yourself” [that is, unselfishly seek the best or higher good for others].” — Matthew 19:19 (AMP)

The word “love” means many different things to people. There are various kinds, or levels, of love; here are a couple of examples: Storge’ love – family love; we love, support, and protect each other Phileo love – this is the love that Christians are commanded to have for one another (Romans 12; 1 Corinthians 13).

For me, being “Anchored,” or having the stability an anchor gives, is found in my family; both my birth family and my extended family. God created the family for our blessing and protection. A healthy, life-giving family can remind us of the following:

• Honor – Ephesians 6:2 (AMP): Honor [esteem, value as precious] your father and your mother [and be respectful to them]—this is the first commandment with a promise. Love and honor keeps us grounded and teaches us to be grateful for both our parents (and the family) God has given to us.
• Love – Matthew 19:19 (AMP). As the passage says above, learning to love others unconditionally teaches us to “move beyond ourselves.” It helps me not to focus on myself and what I want, but how I can help to meet the needs of others.
• Trust – 1 John 3:23 (AMP): This is His commandment, that we believe [with personal faith and confident trust] in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and [that we unselfishly] love and seek the best for one another, just as He commanded us. Trust is always a work in progress, but we are called to seek out the best in others around us.

CALL TO ACTION

• Work today to genuinely honor those family and friends around you, and watch what it does for you and for them.
• Write down ways that you can love (unconditionally) family members or co-workers, and then “just do it.”Make every effort to learn to trust those around you by seeking out the best in them. You can find even the smallest trait to trust in someone.