Some people only talk about their faith in a building where they celebrate “church” and racers… hey not so much, everyday everywhere church is happening.
While whale watching (again it was so incredible, defiantly loved it) the question was asked “what will you tell people when you go back home, into ‘regular’ living, what value have you learned on the race; what separates this from any humanitarian service?”
This followed up with a very thought provoking conversation and the end result was this:
Faith expressed in Love
That stired up more pondering thought within me. The next morning I was still thinking, how am I living my faith expressed in love? I sat down with a nice hot cup of tea and looked at Galatians 5; where it talks about the life of freedom we have.
To paraphrase the chapter I understood the following:
* Do not let anything put you in bondage – Christ died for you to be free
* Using your freedom to serve one another in love is the truest act of freedom
Because we do live in a world that is ruled by sinful dispositions we already recognize the obvious life that develops out of selfish ways all the time. These consist of repetitive behavior, loveless lived life, poor use of your body, accumulation of mental/emotional garbage; joyless rage for happiness, false idols, a fake show of your ‘religion’, paranoid loneliness, cutthroat competition, all-consuming- yet never satisfied wants, a brutal temper, an impotence to love or to be loved, divided homes /divided lives, narrow-minded lopsided pursuits, vicious habits of depersonalizing everyone including yourself, various uncontrollable additions, etc.
I have, as many, had my share of some of these un-Godly things in my life. When I really began to understand these truths about my real identity, what it means for me in my life I chose in. I am still growing into the person God made me to be, but my life, absolutely will reflect my faith…expressed it in love.
Later in the chapter, it goes on to tell how God will bring gifts into our lives when we live the way He designed us to. Personally, I know that is truth because my life can testify in abundance to that. Things like affection receiving and giving, having an exuberance about life, serenity, compassion in the heart, conviction based on honesty, willingness to preserver (strength & determination as well), commitments out of loyalty, not forcing ourselves into life but directing our energies wisely with self control.
For those who believe in Christ and are striving to live out a life that reflects Him; the characteristics of love found in 1 Corinthians 13:4 are beautiful ways to give love.
I encourage you to express your faith, deliver it in love. In thoughts & actions work out its implications in every detail of your lives.
All that thought was provoked from a whale jumping, spraying and flapping? It must be true, God is in all things. Just like whale watching, love is patient, it always hopes, it always perseveres…
If in not loving you gain nothing, why hold yourself in bondage?
Faith expressed in love – I encourage you to live it and enjoy the blessings in return !
– in love
