Devotion #5: Laboring Love

“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” Romans 12:12 

Many Christians face three key challenges in their spiritual walk: delighting in waiting on God’s plan, being patient and calm amidst the world’s brokenness, and maintaining persistence in prayer. These are not easy tasks, but they are central to the life of a believer. In Romans chapter 12, Paul begins with a call to genuine love. This is where we must start because genuine love is the very essence of who Christ is (1 John 4:7-9). Christ is love, and our devotion to Him is rooted in the desire to become more like Him. Our journey is about being conformed to His image (Romans 8:29), and at the heart of this transformation are the questions: How can we grow to be more like our Savior? How can we embody His love? 

Pastor Kent Hughes describes living for Christ as “laboring love.” It is a love that is not passive but requires effort, commitment, and hard work. Acting like Christ is not for the faint of heart. It demands a willingness to put others before ourselves, to persevere in kindness, and to be patient in times of trial. However, there is one key practice that fuels all of this: prayer. In this passage, Paul highlights three essential characteristics of Christ, or fruit of the Spirit: joy, patience, and faithfulness. These are foundational to the Christian life, but they can be incredibly difficult to embody, especially in times of distress or hopelessness. How do we remain joyful? How do we stay patient? How do we persevere in faithfulness? The answer is found in persistent, ongoing prayer. 

In Luke 22:42-44, we see Christ exemplifying joy, patience, and faithfulness, even as He prepares to commit the greatest act of love the world would ever know. Jesus, in His moment of deepest anguish, goes before the Father in prayer. In the garden of Gethsemane, He prays, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42). Here, Christ demonstrates not only submission to God’s will but a deep, intimate relationship with the Father. He delights in His connection with God, waits on God’s timing, and, in His anguish, prays persistently. Jesus prays multiple times, modeling for us the power of prayer in moments of suffering. 

This passage teaches us that true love is not passive. It is active, intense, and driven. Christ’s love for the world was a labor of prayer, obedience, and sacrifice. If we are to live out this kind of love, we must labor in prayer as well. Prayer is where we find our strength to be joyful, patient, and faithful. Prayer aligns our hearts with God’s will and sustains us through life’s trials. It is in our times of prayer that we become more like Christ and reflect His love to others.