In my daily devotional, I was reminded that we as Christians are supposed to love on a deeper level. Not the lovey-dovey love, or the love filled with expectations, stipulations, and rules. The love that is fueled with the love that Christ has for us. This love is filled with grace and mercy and understanding. God calls us to love and connect deeply with one another, and I struggle here. I grew up as a single child in a single-parent household. It takes a long time for me to open up and be vulnerable with others. I keep people at the superficial level, I say hey how are you doing and keep it moving. When I did find myself getting connected with others, one of us would move away and didn’t really stay connected. As adults, it is a challenge to make new friends, we get stuck at the acquaintance level. Now I am not saying that we need to be best friends with everyone, but we are called to be available for deeper connections.
Romans 12:10 says to love each other with genuine affection and take delight in honoring each other.
It is the genuine affection, the brotherly love that stands out to me. Many people that say they are Christians present themselves as not. The hatred, the greed, the malice consumes them yet, they say, they are Christians.
How do we learn to love each other like Christ loves us? We spend time, unrushed, learning and soaking in the presence of God. The Bible study time, the prayer life, strengthens our relationship with God and he begins to rub off on you and then you demonstrate that love to others and you rub off on them. It is like an infection, but you must get infected first! Check out my favorite resources for Bible Study time.
I love the “take delight in honoring each other”, your heart though has to be in the right place. Checking your heart daily for jealousy, envy, greed, etc so that when you are presented with an interaction where you should be delighting in honoring others can be genuine which allows us to truly connect deeply. Have you done the heart work devotional, check it out here.
When I think about the word passed, in the scripture, “We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death” it reminds me of my teaching days. When you have been learning something and then you get tested and you PASS! What a great feeling. The rewards that come with holding that certification are so uplifting and freeing. So to think that we can pass from living a spiritually dead and miserable life to the freedom we find in love is amazing.
Have you ever met someone that was literally dead inside? A very sad sight to see. Their lives seem to reflect how they feel inside and that can be scary.
Knowing just because I love my sister and brother, that I can truly experience life is so motivating. I know that sometimes we struggle to truly love because of the hurt and the experiences that we go through, but as Christians, we are called to go and grow through life with God. That helps us strengthen our faith and our relationship which will then allow us to love others as we love ourselves.
Remember, Love is an action word!
Now, remember, being open and vulnerable to everyone is not what I am saying but being open enough for those around you who can sense your spirit and come to you is what I am saying.
I have been hosting these creative bible journaling workshops and the way that strangers connect deeply and share things that are so personal shows that the atmosphere that was set was full of God’s love, grace, and mercy. This is what people need, especially those who desire that connection. They need that safe place. So how do you present yourself as a vessel glowing with God’s love so that you can love others as you love yourself? Let’s chat!
7 Ways To Connect Deeply With Your Brothers and Sisters
- Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. – Romans 12:16 NIV
- Trying to be friends with someone that is conceited, is challenging, they will always look down on you. There will never be harmony, only cacophony.
- And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works – Hebrews 10:24 ESV
- Having a cheerleader, a champion, and someone truly rooting for you will amplify one’s confidence!
- “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” – Acts 2:42 NIV
- Spend time together, eat meals, pray together, and build holy relationships.
- Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ. – Galatians 6:2 NIV
- People need help! They need support, and if they always have to go to strangers and not their fellow Christian brothers and sisters, then we have a situation.
- Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. – Colossians 3:13 NIV
- Forgiveness is huge, have an open door where you can discuss the grievances, forgive, and make plans to move forward and not repeat the same thing over.
- I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought. – 1 Corinthians 1:10 NIV
- There are many cliques in the Christian world, of course, we connect with people that are similar to us but are you too closed off to where you can’t hear and be open to people with differences? How do we grow and build with just one mind? Diversity expands the reach!
- And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone.– 1 Thessalonians 5:1 ESV
- Patience is challenging, but people will always remember how your patience with them helped them. Keep pushing and providing support to those that want to give up or are lacking in some areas.
7 Scriptures to Help You Connect Deeply With Others
What are some ways you help create that environment?
Would love to hear your experience! Share ways that others have fostered that environment to connect deeply. Feel free to DM me, post and tag me…
Thank you, God bless!
CicelyRenee
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