BY Debbie Eaton
Text: Luke 24:13-35, John 15:1-17
Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.
– 1 John 4:11-12, NLT
It was these verses from 1 John chapter 4 that first challenged me to live with the conviction that people are never interruptions but divine appointments to show and express God’s love. This is the ultimate act of being hospitable—to welcome and walk with others in love.
I spent several years walking alongside women, developing, encouraging and leading them to better understand that they matter to God and have tremendous influence. So when I lost my job earlier this year, I was shocked and devastated. It was very unexpected and I found myself questioning God, wondering whether loving others was truly of value.
Job loss, family crisis, conflict, gossip, comparison, jealousy… these are grievances we are bound to experience as we walk with others in love. We run the risk of being hurt, of experiencing loss, of being devastated and asking God: Is love worth it?
Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”
– Mark 12:29-31, NLT
God first commands us to love and abide in Him. He is jealous for our love! He walks in our presence every moment of every day. He lives in us, therefore equipping us to walk alongside others in love. We are the representation of the invisible God! So as we walk hand in hand with God, we are able to walk with others by:
Seeing them with unfiltered eyes.
Slowing down to listen, pray and encourage.
Forgiving when forgiveness transcends understanding.
Loving without condition.
This kind of hospitality is only possible in Jesus.
I’ll never forget the day I broke the news of my job loss to my teenage son. He has grown up as my sidekick and I knew I had to tell him. That Friday afternoon driving home from basketball practice, I shared the news with a tear-drenched face. When we stopped at a red light, he put his hand on my shoulder and spoke these words over me. “Mom, you are loved because you have loved well. You don’t need to have that job or any job to love others. You will always love and, in return, others will love. That is what Jesus teaches us and how He commands us to live.” The way the Holy Spirit spoke through my son that day still brings me to tears.
My son understood and reminded me of the lesson the two men learned on the road to Emmaus: Being with Jesus changes us. He is the reason we love. He is the reason we welcome others. When we abide in the Lord, He loves us and we can then love. He teaches us, and we learn and pass it on.
Because the Savior says to us, “Walk with me,” we can walk with others.
Pray that you will have the eyes to see who God puts in your path to love today.
84 thoughts on "Walk With Me"
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I think the parable He gives in this chapter is so perfect! We are the branches but a tree would wither if it wasn’t for the vine giving us the source of life we need! God is such a incredible teacher! My strength comes from Him as my source of life and hope!
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It’s amazing in John 15 when Jesus is talking about the vine, the branches, pruning, fruit, and the Father. What draws me to wonder is Jesus’ command. It seems as though the command always leads back to love- loving God and loving others.
This is such a great reading plan, ty (: -
Sisters I need prayer! We are fostering a brother and sister. The boy has seen nothing but hate and disdain toward women for 10 years of his life and therefore is a challenge to love. I want to love him unconditionally and show him that not all women will let him down or leave him. Some days are easier than others! I want to have the Jesus kind of hospitality for him and his sister! Thanks for your prayers!
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Praying for God’s love to flow through you and for hearts to be changed!
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Praying for the fruits of the spirit to run through your home and through this precious boy who asking for love in all the wrong ways. Praying the enemy gets his hands off him and all the lies and evil he has done to be shown as his work alone and that God’s grace and mercy is revealed to him. In Jesus Name!
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I love that the two men traveling, Simon and I’m not sure the other man gave us insight to the insight and clarity that Jesus gives us when we turn to his word and prayer. Sometimes we brainstorm situations, things that we hear, a topic that we are trying to grasp and obtain understanding on, even when reading the Word, but when Jesus walks with us ( like he did with the men ) he is delighted to give us true insight. He shared with them truth, and gave them understanding and hope when they let the author or truth speak into their lives. So for me I want to begin to take the time to ask God in prayer what his thoughts are on a situation, for his discernment and wisdom, and especially when reading the Word. I want God to reveal true understanding to me, so I can grasp more of his character and his love!
Today, and everyday I invite Jesus to walk with me, to give me insight with every situation! -
Sometimes I find myself running thinking I’ll get more done, and expecting God to keep in time with me. I’m starting to learn that walking , and allowing Him to set the pace, sets me up to succeed in His plans for me, which are the ones most important to be successful at. The journey is the destination.
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what an awesome way to put it- us trying to make God keep our pace, when we need to align ourselves with him- AMEN
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Love is such a beautiful thing. Just the existence of such an emotion can prove the Lord is true by itself.
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It’s interesting how our backgrounds extinguish who we are and once were string in Jesus to walk in the path he has for us, our walk with him is leveled at a much deeper need for him toward others. I want to be defined by Jesus love!
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