First of all, what does it mean to love well?
That is a question I’ve been meditating on for a few weeks now. God has been walking me through a season of learning how to love intentionally. My most recent revelation is that love is not a feeling; it’s an action. I wrote an entire blog about what I think it means to love others well, but somewhere in the process I grew curious as to how others feel about this question. I ditched my written response and began asking my squad mates what they thought it meant.
Here are some of the responses I got:
“When you no longer think about yourself and put the other person first. When you take the time to get to know someone and think about their needs before your own needs.” – Becky Arce – Team Alabaster
“To love well is to love unconditionally – the prime example that Jesus gave us. It means to look at others' interests before our own interests. To love well is to see someone for their worth and dignity knowing that it’s not always easy to love them. It's important to take time to get to know that person and know their interests in order to fulfill their love language(s).” – Sara Hernandez – Team Hidden Refuge
“Loving well reflects being loved well. We have to open ourselves up to be loved well (sometimes in uncomfortable ways), but ironically, as humans we aren’t capable of sustainably loving well on our own. Jesus loves us in ways humans aren’t able to, so once we realize that and let him love us, we are transformed to live outside ourselves and love well.” – Isaac Berg – Team HolyFIRE
“Loving someone well is choosing to love that person even when they hurt you. Loving well is forgiveness. It’s also Biblical to look to their interests instead of your own. Learning someone – their likes and dislikes – helps you love them better. Loving someone well is selfless.” – Lynette Alegria – Team Hidden Refuge
“We love well by living a life that emulates Jesus Christ. Having the mind of Christ so that we see and treat people the same way that he would see and treat them. Being slow to speak and quick to listen, interceding for them, and putting them above ourselves.” – Alex Compton – Team HolyFIRE
“At times you treat other people better than you treat yourself. One big thing about loving someone well includes Christ-like forgiveness. The way we forgive and the way He forgives are two different things.” – Jonathan James – Squaddy AKA Squad Leader
“A way that I’ve heard it said is, love is God’s best for another person. If you love someone well you’re going to behave in a way that reflects God’s best for them. The best thing you can give anyone is God. Through us loving them they get a glimpse of God. When we love them in a Christ-like way they become more acquainted with God’s love.” – Anna Primrose – Team Hidden Refuge
Do you see an underlying theme here? I certainly do.
Much of our love comes from mimicking Christ’s character. To love well is to love selflessly, putting others before ourselves. It means to forgive others the same way He forgave, and continues to, forgive us. Loving well is twofold; loving God well, seeking Him so that He can pour into us, and likewise, we can pour out to others. The amazing thing about this is that as we seek after God in order to love Him and others well, we will look more like Him. The two greatest commandments are centered on loving God and others. In doing this one thing, our whole lives come into alignment with His heart.
“And now these three things remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” – 1 Corinthians 13:13
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Friends & family: I am still in need of raising $2,713 by March 31 in order to be fully funded and finish my race. Please consider donating towards my trip! God has been doing some pretty amazing things in and through me. All you have to do is visit the "SUPPORT ME!" link just below my profile picture in order to donate. Thank you for your prayers and financial provision! God bless.
