Daily Devotions
A Godly Competition
Reading for February 27: Deuteronomy 20-22
Weekly reading for February 25-March 3: Romans 11-16
Title: A Godly Competition
Outdo one another in showing honor.
Romans 12:10
Competition is normally a bad thing in relationships, but the apostle Paul suggests here a godly competition is a good and healthy thing.
He is really getting at the heart of what love is when he suggests this, too, because this kind of attitude is completely selfless. True love is proactive and not reactive. Worldly love shows kindness only toward those who are kind to them. Worldly love waits until the other smiles. It waits until the other gives. It waits until the other greets. It waits until the other forgives.
True love does not behave in that way because it is not seeking its own. Genuine love fearlessly and recklessly gives without any thought to whether that gift of love will be reciprocated. It does not wait to see whether it is safe to show kindness. It shows kindness even when it is clearly not safe to do so; when it seems obvious that the act of kindness will not be appreciated or returned in any way.
So make it a personal challenge today to love selflessly in this kind of way. Don't be careful or cautious. Throw all caution to the wind. Love with reckless abandon. Do not merely react to the kindness others have shown to you. Challenge yourself to go beyond what others have done for you.
Father God, help us this day to love others as you loved us.
