What Love Requires

 

It's not an easy thing to try to follow Jesus' example.  I mean, how do you even do that?  I've spent most of my life trying to figure that out.  The best thing I've come up with is to say that "I'm stumbling after Jesus."  

And, boy, do I stumble sometimes.  I think, if we are all being honest, we would have to admit the same thing.  But I have discovered something over time that has given me some hope that I might one day figure a few things out.  

There's this question that I have begun asking myself when I am confronted with difficult decisions, challenging people, issues that need resolved, and just about every difficult moment you could think of: 

“What does love require of me?”

It is a simple question, but if we are honest, it may also be one of the hardest questions a follower of Jesus can ask. Because love rarely calls us toward what is easiest. Love asks us to be patient when we are frustrated, compassionate when we are wounded, forgiving when we would rather hold a grudge, and courageous when silence would be more comfortable.

The question itself becomes a spiritual practice—a daily invitation to pause before reacting and to consider how Christ might respond through us.

Author and theologian Henri Nouwen once wrote, “Our greatest fulfillment lies in giving ourselves to others.” Those words echo the heart of the Gospel. Jesus consistently showed that love is not merely a feeling; it is a way of being in the world. When asked about the greatest commandment, Jesus answered: “You shall love the Lord your God… and your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37–39). In John 13:34, he says, “Love one another. Just as I have loved you.”

That kind of love is active. It listens. It serves. It seeks understanding before judgment. The Apostle Paul reminds us that love is patient, kind, and not self-seeking (1 Corinthians 13:4–5). In moments of tension, disagreement, or disappointment, asking “What does love require of me?” can keep our hearts aligned with the way of Christ.

Sometimes love requires speaking truth gently. Sometimes it requires silence and grace. Sometimes it means setting aside pride so reconciliation can begin. And sometimes love simply requires showing up for someone who feels forgotten.

As you move through your days, carry this question with you. Let it shape your words, your decisions, and your relationships. In every challenge, ask yourself: What does love require of me here?

Prayer

Loving God, teach me to live with a heart shaped by compassion and grace. Help me to choose love even when it is difficult, and to follow the example of Christ in all I do. May my words and actions reflect your goodness in the world. Amen.

Reflection Questions

1. What situation in your life right now most needs to be approached with love?

2. When is it hardest for you to ask, “What does love require of me?”

3. How might your relationships change if this question guided your daily choices?