The other day I was sitting in church in Guatemala. My ear got hot, so I knew the Lord wanted me to listen to something He was about to tell me. The verse “ love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another” popped into my head.
I couldn’t remember where in the Gospels that scripture was, so I asked Him. Soon after, the preacher stood up to preach and directed us to all go to “San Juan 13.” For some reason, before turning there, I knew that was God’s answer. As I turned to John 13, I saw the exact thing He had spoken to me in verse 34. That was the confirmation I needed to know that the Lord speaks to me. I just need to listen.
After the confirmation, I started wondering why He told me that. It didn’t take much thinking to realize exactly why He was reminding me of that “new commandment.” Earlier that day, I had gotten aggravated by something someone had said. I reacted with judgment; I told her she needed to be decisive. I let my feelings get the best of me. As He reminded me of that verse, I had a flash black of that conversation. I knew when He said that to me, He was referring to that moment because that conversation had been convicting me all day. I was convicted because I didn’t act out of love.
Lately, I have been learning about how love is a verb. It’s what you do. It’s how you serve. It’s the sacrifices you make. Love is value; it’s not a feeling. It is shown through actions. If we love (the verb) people, love (the feeling) is sure to follow.
This month we have been working at an orphanage. For some, the feelings of love towards these kids came easy. For me….not so much. It was hard to have the feelings of love towards 22 kids, that not only was there a huge age difference but a language barrier. As 2 weeks have passed, we have served the kids daily. We have cooked for them, done their laundry, played games with them, 20 times in a row if they ask, and put them in front of ourselves. As we have served these kids, I can’t help but love them. What if because I didn’t have the feelings of love towards these kids, I didn’t serve them? Can you imagine? Me neither, but we do that all of the time. We expect to have feelings before we will serve people, instead of serving people so the feelings of love come.
Okay, so one quick story. Wednesday I was riding in the bus to take the kids to school. I had my phone in my lap because I have been using it as a camera. I set it in the seat to give a few kids a hug before heading to school. When I turned around, the phone was gone. It was frustrating knowing that one of the kids we had loved on all week, had the nerve to take my phone. Long story short, we found it. It was under the seat where one of the kids was sitting. No where near where I was. For a second I chose to think “oh, I must have kicked it over there.” I knew I hadn’t. Then, the Lord, as He seems to frequently do these days, gave my ear are warm sensation. I listened. He said “no, don’t roll it off like that. Now is your time to choose, choose to love. Choose to forgive.”
What I had be learning and preaching all week was getting put to the test. Am I really going to love? No matter what this kid did, serve him, not react with a bitter heart, but chose to love him. I decided that was the best choice, so I did. I hugged him. I told him I loved him. I invited him for an afternoon jog. I prayed for him, and soon enough the bitter feelings were gone. I genuinely had forgiven him by loving him.
Anyways, my point is, the new commandment has been put in a new light for me. Somewhere in my head, I seriously thought I was supposed to have the feelings of love towards everyone. God reminded me that love is a verb. It is serving. I must serve others because He has served us, so we must continue to serve others. As we do so, the feelings of love are soon to follow.
Okay that is what I learned this week. Feel free to share anything you have learned recently in an email or below! 🙂
P.S. I have loads of photos…. but my email does not want to work right now… post them soon!
Liz
