If there’s one thing from Scripture that the world seems to understand is that we are supposed to love, but is that love Christ’s love? In other words, does our love look like Jesus’s?

Apostle Paul told the Philippians, “For God is my witness, how I long for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus,” (Philippians 1:8). Paul’s words reveal a heart saturated with Christ’s love. His longing for the Philippians wasn’t just personal sentiment—it was a deep, Christlike affection. He invokes God as his witness, emphasizing the sincerity and intensity of this longing. This isn’t superficial friendliness. It’s the selfless, sacrificial love of Jesus flowing through him.

This verse challenges us to consider: Do we love others with the affection of Christ? Not merely tolerating or occasionally being nice, but truly longing for their good, praying for their growth, and yearning for deep fellowship.

Christ’s affection is compassionate, patient, and relentlessly gracious. It’s the kind of love that moves toward others, even when it costs us. In a world prone to shallow connections, this Christlike affection calls us to genuine relationships marked by compassion, encouragement, and sacrifice.

May we ask God to shape our hearts like Paul’s—to love others, especially our brothers and sisters in Christ, not with shallowness and lip-service, but with the same deep affection that Christ has shown us.

Change begins in you!