The Challenge of Doing Everything with Love
12/8/25
Camilo Flores
I recently read a story in Corrie ten Boom’s memoir, The Hiding Place. For quick context: she survived a Nazi concentration camp. Years after the war, she came face to face with one of the cruelest guards from that place. The man reached out his hand, asking for forgiveness. She writes that, humanly speaking, her hand was stuck to her side frozen by pain and resentment. She couldn’t forgive; she didn’t feel anything kind or noble. But in her desperation, she prayed, “Lord, give me Your love.” And when she obeyed and stretched out her hand, she felt a rush of supernatural love that didn’t come from her.
I share this because a few days ago, during my small-group meeting where we talk about what we’re learning on Sundays, we came across a phrase from Paul that looks simple but is a punch to the conscience. It’s in 1 Corinthians 16:14 (NLT): “Do everything with love.”
That word, “everything,” stayed with me. It made me think that if we truly emphasized this, our lives would look very different. Because let’s be honest: a lot of times we operate on autopilot, we speak without a filter, and when we’re upset, we blurt out whatever we feel without considering the damage it might cause.
I think about this especially when I have to correct my daughter. I confess there are days when I forget the verse, say something harsh, and lose a chance to teach her well. But when I’m able to slow down and correct with love, the difference is huge. And just to be clear, this isn’t an excuse to be a permissive parent. On the contrary, I’ve learned that biblical love doesn’t hide the truth. As Ephesians 4:15 (NLT) says, we must “speak the truth in love.”
Correcting with love doesn’t mean ignoring what’s wrong; it means I care about her heart enough to show her the right path without crushing her spirit along the way. It makes me happy when I get it right, and it honestly breaks my heart when I don’t.
And this brings me to what I want to share, because this isn’t about making ourselves feel good. Sometimes we think love is something we manufacture, but the Bible is very clear. In 1 John 4:16 (NLT) we read:
“God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.”
It’s not that God has love or merely says nice things; His very essence is love. So the only way I can genuinely love my wife, my daughter, or my neighbor is by knowing Him more.
This has changed how I see the world, even in the little things. I’ve realized that “do everything with love” also applies when I’m working in the garden. When I place a plant in the soil, remove the weeds, or water the ground, I can do it just because it needs to get done, or I can do it with love, remembering what Colossians 3:23 (NLT) says: “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.”
God never promises that if we love, everything will turn into sunshine and rainbows, or that everyone will smile back at us. In fact, Jesus wasn’t loved much, yet He loved to the fullest. But I can assure you of something: loving changes what’s happening inside you.
So today I’m challenging myself (and you, while I’m at it): whatever you have to do, do it with love. Whether it’s sending that difficult email, washing the dishes, or having that tough conversation—try it. If it goes badly, at least you’ll know you tried to do it God’s way; and if it goes well, you’ll see that even pulling weeds takes on new meaning when your heart is in the right place.