I was 16 when I finally truly understood Jesus, why he came and who he was. And back then it was so simple.
God IS love. (1 John 4:16)
At 16, I fell in love with a God who loved me despite anything I had done, would do, or ever could do! And all I had to do was say yes to his love.
I was relieved and overjoyed by the knowledge of a God who just wanted a relationship with me – simply because he loved me. I could barely wrap my mind around such a love. One with absolutely no strings attached!
He wasn’t a religion, he wasn’t an organization. His love wasn’t conditional.
He just loves us!
He came in the form of love so that we may live freely and have life more abundantly. I was so in awe with him. I wanted to just go and share that love with others.
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And then these seasons come. Seasons where life gets in the way of that focus. When I forget how incredible his love is. I go to too many church services, listen to too many podcasts, read too many books. I focus so much on details of Christian living that somehow I lose sight of the big picture!
I think this can happen so easily, especially in our western culture. We get hurt by Christians, hurt by religion, and we lose sight of Jesus. I’ve met so many people around the world this year that share that hurt. We see religion and lose sight of Jesus, so we run away as fast as we can.
The past few months on the race I feel like I’ve been in one of those seasons. In the midst of living in community & doing ministry, I’ve still been over complicating it all. I get so focused on the world race & the culture that comes along with that. I’ve been so frustrated with other Christians and aspects of Christianity that at times I’ve just wanted to throw in the towel and run so far away from anything “Christian”. I’ve been questioning and doubting every little thing I believe, and I lost focus of the reason I’m even on the race: to simply love people as He has loved me.
The church (worldwide) isn’t perfect. We try to be Christ’s hand and feet, but we fall short. We focus too much on little things, on what the bible says about different issues. We don’t love people in the way they need to be loved. But fortunately, we serve a God who’s way is perfect. And that way is love.
Lately, God is taking me back to basics (hallelujah!). Back to that place when I first found Jesus, back to a place of being totally in awe of his love. Of just sitting at His feet.
I’m done getting stuck on little issues in the bible, I’m done overcomplicating it all, when the gospel is so simple.
“We love because he first loved us” 1 John 4:19
Can we all just focus on that, on His love, and let it radiate from our hearts, so it overflows to every part of our lives? That’s my prayer. I want to spend my life in love with the father, and pour that out to others, because he first loved me.
It’s not my job to decide every detail of what is wrong and right in Christian life. It’s not my job to judge how others live. My only job is to love.
So I’m done overcomplicating it all. I only have a few more months on the mission field. Only 1 more continent after Europe. Only 4 more countries where my full time job is to make Jesus known (but shouldn’t that be my job always?). I’m done wasting time with doubt in my head, done focusing on little religious things. I’m focusing on the bigger picture, getting back to basics- love.
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Ministry update!
This month I get to love people in this beautiful place!
My team’s working with Shiloh Ministries here in Kotor. We’re building relationships with the locals, working in a coffee shop and at a church, and having some killer off days border hopping! This country is chilly and beautiful and I am loving every second.
