Do All Things With Love

“Let all that you do be done in love.” 1 Corinthians 16:14

This is one of those verses that is written on phone lock screens, Hobby Lobby decor, and Instagram bios. It’s become pretty popular because well, it’s just so good, right?! We know that we are called to love all the time, but I think we’ve become desensitized to what it means to truly do all things with love.

When we think of “Do all things with love” we often think of the moments that we would define as “loving”. We think of hugs, gifts, words of encouragement, serving others, etc. All too often we read this verse or ones like it and think that we should do more of the loving things. Now, don’t get me wrong! There is absolutely nothing wrong with these acts of love, and I would encourage you to do them often! But I believe that 1 Corinthians 16:14 is actually calling us to something bigger.

It says that ALL that we do should be done in love. Yes, this includes those acts that we talked about before, but it also includes some things in life that we might deem unloving… What about the times when you have to fire an employee? Break up with a boyfriend/girlfriend? Discipline a child? Say no to something/someone? & what about the normal/mundane things? Washing the dishes? Giving someone a ride? Seeing your neighbors on a walk? These are all parts of life that can and should be done in love!

“All the things that we do are done in love when Christ is at the center of our actions.”

In our culture we have twisted our idea of love to mean “anything that makes others happy”. The loving moments that we talked about before (hugs, gifts, etc.) make people happy, but that is not why it is loving. All the things that we do are done in love when Christ is at the center of our actions. 1 John 4:8 tells us that “God is love” and because of the way God has loved us we can love other people (1 John 4:11). If Christ is at the center of our actions, then we are capable of loving people even in the difficult conversations because remember that love is not just what makes others happy.

1 Corinthians 13 tells us exactly what love is. It says “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” (1 Col. 13:4-7). So even in the times where we have to do something that feels unloving, remember that God is the one who sets the standard of love, not us. Everything that we do can be done in love if it is done with God (who is love) at the center of your actions.

“Let everything you do be done with patience, kindness, humility, respect, consideration, and truth… let’s strive to let all that we do look like 1 Corinthians 13”

So, friend, let every act of love, every mundane thing, and every difficult conversation be done in love. AKA let everything you do be done with patience, kindness, humility, respect, consideration, and truth. Basically, let’s strive to let all that we do look like 1 Corinthians 13 (;

Remember that “We love because He first loved us.” (John 4:19) & friend…

YOU ARE SO SO LOVED <3