Weekly devotion: What does ‘genuine love’ look like?
BLESS, Egypt
A scene from an Egyptian village where BLESS runs one of its community development programmes.
Our partner, BLESS, is the social development arm of the Coptic Orthodox Church. It plays a leading role in serving underprivileged and marginalised communities throughout Egypt to improve people’s quality of life. Their community development programme includes literacy classes, healthcare and economic support and much more to help people thrive. The new phase of its project seeks to ensure that these positive changes are sustainable for the long term.
Bible reading
‘Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honour. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.’
Romans 12:9-13
Thought
What does ‘genuine love’ look like? These Bible verses give us a pen-portrait of the attitudes and actions that accompany genuine love. Time and again, we see in the pages of scripture that Christian love is necessarily accompanied by actions and good deeds – Christ-like love cannot be neatly contained within one person but instead overflows and blesses the lives of others.
Of course, we find the perfect example of this in the life and death of Christ. Our Lord completely poured himself out for us – becoming human, living in humility, and eventually dying on the cross (see: Philippians 2:7-9). The Bible tells us that the reason for this was love – and that we should be imitators of this love: ‘By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers’ (1 John 3:16).
Ask yourself: Just as Christ poured himself out for us, the team at BLESS is pouring out love, compassion and practical blessings into marginalised Egyptian communities. Reflect on what you can learn from the example of our servant-hearted brothers and sisters, like BLESS, in the Middle East.
Prayer
Loving God,
Once again we stand amazed in your presence – we are in awe of your incredible and sacrificial love.
We praise you for BLESS and for the transformative work they are doing in Egypt. May you continue to prosper their work and cause the communities where they serve to flourish.
Help us to understand more of the depth and richness of your love – may you fill us with this same love and cause it to overflow to others around us.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
How BLESS’ literacy programme is changing women’s lives
One woman who attended BLESS’ literacy classes explains why learning to read meant so much to her.
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