“Love means living the way God commanded us to live. As you have heard from the beginning, His command is this: Live a life of love.” 2 John 1:6
While studying The Purpose Driven Life (highly recommend this devotional), I was really convicted that I needed to blog about Chapter 16 “What Matters Most”. the distractions of life have kept me from doing so, but after reviewing the chapter I am now ready to follow through with that conviction.
LOVE.
I could some up the whole chapter with that one word, that one command from our God.
“…serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’.” Gal 5:13b-14
This command doesn’t seem difficult, yet every day I have to remind myself to act and respond with love.
While sitting in traffic, I must remind myself that tailing the car in front of me is not an act of love…
When a bright orange car decides it is a great idea to cut me off (this happened today), I just have to smile and remember that even though I could mutter a few choice words under my breath – that is not loving.
When my Grandfather decides to get aggravated at me for taking him to a mandatory doctor appointment…. I could get mad, or I could respond with love.
I could go on with examples for pages, to let you know that I am the first person who needs to listen to this blog… But I will spare you because I think you get the point. There are times, every day, that we have the opportunity to be frustrated, angry, impatient, etc. in those moments God wants so much for you to just breathe, and respond with LOVE.
A very philosophical movie once said “if you can’t say something nice, don’t say nothing at all” The movie Bambi.
Despite the double negative in the above quote, in that moment that children’s movie has so much wisdom. As Christians we are called to be like Christ, and God is LOVE. So as Christians we are called to BE love. And that movie recognizes that what you speak, is a window into your heart.
Yes, your waitress may have brought you the wrong drink… But does that mean you need to be rude about it?
Circumstances throughout the day always bring the opportunity to choose love, or to choose to respond in weakness. I understand that we all have bad days, but on those days ask the Spirit to help you still reprisent The Lord well. I am willing to bet He will Be your strength.
“Your strong love for each other will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”John 13:3
I don’t know about you, but that verse really convicts me… Can the world SEE that I am a disciple of Christ through my LOVE?
Ask yourself that question, search your heart honestly… I know that there are some areas in my life where I can love more.
I plead with you, represent our Lord well. I understand you might have opinions and beliefs about Politics, War, Gay Rights, Racism, Sexism, Drugs, Sex, ________(fill in the blank with whatever you tend to get into arguments about, or express yourself unlovingly over), but are those opinions more important to you than God’s will for your life?
“The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love” Gal 5:6
I know some of you may hate me for saying it… But if you can’t have a conversation about something without it getting heated, and you saying things that are unloving, perhaps that subject has become an idol in your life? Truly look into scripture and see if God values Love, or whatever it is that you are so passionate about more.
For some of you this blog may be aggravating. For others you may be on my same page. I just know that I have heard way too many stories from non-believers about the judgment they feel and receive from so called Christians. Christ said that we will prove to the world that we are His disciples through our LOVE (John 13:3)… Not through our judgement.
“do not judge, or you too will be judged.” Matt 7:1
I just lovingly want to remind my fellow Christ Followers, that we are representing Christ. Your expression of love for someone may be the reason that they decide to go to church and get saved, and your expression of judgement towards someone may be the reason that they don’t.
I pray that all of you are humbly convicted of any areas in your life where you can show more love. I pray that we can reform the view of Christians as judgmental people, and replace that will loving people. I pray that non-believers are attracted to us because of our humility, love, and kindness in all situations.
“If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” 1 Cor 13 1-8a
