We’re often told, growing up, to associate love with many things. Red roses, chocolate, butterflies, chic flicks, beauty, knights in shining armor, fairy tales, feelings.
Growing up makes you realize a lot of things, and one of those things is how far from “feelings” love actually is. Feelings are fickle. They are fleeting, they come and go with the good days and the bad days, with the sun and with the rain…Love will take part in no such thing.. Love is a deliberate action, not a feeling.
I mean look at God. He is Love. What did God do? He loves us so much that he SENT His only Son. Jesus loves us so much that He DIED a criminal’s death, though He was perfect. The Holy Spirit loves us so much that it GUIDES us in truth to what is best for us.
I’m learning more and more, that to be like Jesus is to love in actions. And don’t get me wrong, I don’t believe actions equal love.. But real love DOES act. It compels. It drives. It sacrifices.
I chose 1 John 3:18 as the theme verse for this trip, because I’m so sick and tired of just SAYING “I love you”.. I want to SHOW “I love you”… And not only on this trip, but to every person I meet in my life. For so long this follower of Christ’s teachings was too consumed with my own life, and my own concerns. I’m so thankful that His love slapped me into the reality of what it really means to follow what Christ teaches.
It’s not always easy to love. More often than not, it is difficult. Peter says ” work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen” (2 Peter 1:10 NLT)
If we SAY we love God, then we need to SHOW him, and that requires work…hard work..It’s not a walk in the park. We need to love others the way that He wants us to love others. It’s not “let me only love the lovable people”…it’s “I will choose to love the most unlovable person”. It’s not “Let me put my desires and concerns before the other person” it’s “I will put the other person’s desires and concerns before myself”. It’s not “Let me see what I can get out of it” it’s “Let me see how I can serve this person, even if I get nothing out of it.”
God won’t love us any more or any less because of our deeds, but our deeds should be a blatant and unquestionable response to what He did for us..
His love is breath taking, controversial, charming, and inspiring. But above all else.. It’s UNCONDITIONAL. PERFECT. and REAL.
May our hearts echo the lyrics of Hillsong “Show me how to love like You have loved me”
Agenda: Love,
Bethsaida
