The Love Challenge

by Erin Bird

Last Sunday, we kicked off our new message series from 1 Corinthians 13 called Redefining Love. (If you missed it or want to hear it again, you can listen to the message here on the Riverwood website or get it through iTunes.)

At the end of the message, I gave everyone The Love Challenge. I challenged them to:

1. Read 1 Corinthians 13 every day.
2. Reflect each evening on two questions:

1. "How did I let God's love flow through me toward others today?"
2. "When did I NOT show love, and what do I need to do to make it right?"

3. Then pray after reflecting (as well as throughout the day) that God would help you to love like Jesus loved.

If you were there Sunday (or listened to the message) and took up the challenge, how's it going so far?

Personally, I've been able to do Step #1 of the Love Challenge each morning this week. (In fact, I'm reading it in a different translation each day using the various Bibles on my phone.) But I'm finding it harder to stop and reflect at the end of the day. How about you?

But let me challenge you to take up the Love Challenge and keep at it. Let God's Word redefine your understanding of love by reading 1 Corinthians 13 each day. Then let His Spirit shape you into the image of Jesus by reflecting each day on how He is helping you to love like Jesus loved.

I'm excited to do this with you! There will be moments when it's challenging, and we'll see just how far we fall short of loving like Jesus. But let's thank God for His grace and continue to keep our eyes on Him so that HIS agape love flows through us to all those we interact with each day.

Love on!

If you didn't get a Love Challenge card on Sunday, you can download one here.