“Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Romans 12:9-21 ESV
Verse 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.
This was today’s sermon, it was really good and it’s true. Love is a verb. It’s not easy, it’s not just words or feelings you feel.
Something that has been on my mind lately and was brought up today was the question are you lovable? I would like to answer that question with “well, yes of course” but if I am honest I don’t think it’s that easy. I want to be, but I feel like I get in my own way more often than not.
What is love? Sacrifice, its unconditional (or at least should be) it’s from God, it is God. The Road Less Traveled stated “Love is the will to extend one’s self for the purpose of nurturing one’s own or another’s spiritual growth.” When love is just words it’s hard to believe. Love is action, must be shown through action. It at times can be difficult but it is definitely doable.
I am excited for the community aspect of the race, but at the same time I am terrified of it. I want my teammates to be able to love me, but not just because they have to and we are commanded by God to love others. But, for it to be out of a place of walking through the trenches and despite all my flaws (and there are quit a bit) .
I think what has been bothering me and what I have been wrestling with all day is “am I lovable” well yes because I have done this and this and oh yea I also did this. I think love is something you work at and it does require action, it is a verb. But, what actions are you doing for love is the question. Where does that love you are actively doing coming from? What are the motives that go behind and beyond?
Love is an action but it’s also a choice. The verse that was basically the sermon was to bless those who persecute you. WOW! So I am thinking, I am to bless those who have hurt me in the deepest and most damaging way. I know I am called to forgive, that’s something that in and of itself was and is a struggle, but you’re (God) asking me to bless them. If I am honest, I don’t want to, that’s the last thing I want to do. I don’t even know what that looks like.
It doesn’t just apply to those who have persecuted me, but those who persecute others. When thinking about the race, I think of the orphans, but mostly I think of the red light districts and those who traffic humans. I am called to bless them, the people they hurt are called to bless them not to curse them.
I know with out a shadow of s doubt that it cannot come from me alone. I do not have that kind of power not that ability all on my own. That comes from Hod alone. Comes from his love for me. His love for every person on this earth. He knew what was going to happen, he knew the darkness of this world.
It may not always be easy to bless those who persecute you, but as I was challenged I am challenging you..what will you do?
I am posting a song below that one of my teammates shared with our team. It doesn’t exactly correspond with this but it’s been on my heart this week and wanted to share!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qX5wcFUV4I
And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. 2 Corinthians 3:3
