Love and Humility, Part 3

by Jerolyn Bogear

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. ~Romans 12:10

When looking up the Greek meaning for "devoted," it is not just a loyalty or friendly kind of action. Rather, a devoted love is like the love of a parent/child or a husband/wife. It is being devoted to one another to the point of sacrifice.

Christ demonstrated his sacrificial love in the greatest form possible and he did it for friend and enemy. How then can we be devoted to one another in our lives on a day-to-day basis? What are our sacrifices?

Probably the greatest sacrifice we can without actually dying is of our time. The most important one is taking the time to pray for one another. Lifting each other up to the Father -- standing in one another's stead petitioning His grace, mercy and guidance for that person. I could ask nothing greater of those who care for me.

But then we can perform acts of devotion in a physical way -- a phone call, and note, running an errand, standing by them in their grief or celebration, offering a smile, a word of support, a listening ear, praying together, sharing God's revelations. Are we taking the time to offer these acts of love?

We can look at this backward too. Devotion and honoring others above ourselves may be through an act of receiving love. It takes humility to let others know we are struggling and need help. Receiving help demonstrates that you love those giving it.