I’ve been told that I ooze love from the core of who I am. I was made to walk this earth for the purpose of bringing LOVE to those I encounter. The race has nothing but grown my love for people. I’m the type of person who makes friends everywhere I go (sorry mom I know I’m not supposed to talk to strangers…). I strike up a conversation with the person sitting next to me on the bus, or across from me in the coffee shop. I am continually learning and putting into practice the act of fearlessly and full heartedly loving each and every person I encounter with the reckless love of Jesus.
“Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.” Romans 12:9-13.
Oh let us be a people who put that into practice. People who love with great mercy. People who renew our minds daily and know what the Lord detests. Who cling tightly to what is good, and are devoted to each other in love. I pray that we honor one another above ourselves and aren’t afraid to say the hard things. Tough love is necessary to break a heart of stone. Let us never be lacking in zeal, serving the Lord enthusiastically in ALL we do. Let all that we do be done for the glory of God. May we rejoice in the midst of suffering and be PRAYER WARRIORS, always seeking to extend a hand to those in need.
Love is an action. Not a mushy gushy feeling. Love extends beyond the sweaty palms, shaky knees, pounding heartbeat, and tummy turns. Society today tells us that love is equivalent to lust. That is far far from the truth. Right now I live in Central America where catcalling is a norm. One day my team of 7 got catcalled 29 times in the 30 minutes it takes to travel home from ministry. “I love you” gets yelled at us frequently from the cars zooming by. Despite what we have been taught, that is not love. In fact, it is the exact opposite. Unlike lust, God’s type of love is directed outward towards others, instead of inward towards ourselves. It is utterly and completely unselfish. It doesn’t make sense to our brains; it goes against our natural inclinations. We are to love wholly and completely without expectation of anything in return. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 is not just something to just be recited at weddings. It is to be put into action each and every day. The love we should desire to live out is to be patient and kind, not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It should not demand its own way, or be irritable, and should keep absolutely no record of being wronged. We need to not rejoice about injustice but rejoice instead whenever the truth wins out.
The love we are called to never ever gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. Christ is the perfect example of love put into action. He doesn’t look at us through the lens of our past mistakes. To Him, we are not defined by the things we do that separate us from him—the things we do that cause Him great pain. Instead, WHILE we are caught in our sin, when we should be His foe, His love fights for us. In the midst of our shame and guilt, when we feel no worth, He paid it ALL for us. If you are anything like me, that makes no sense at all. Our brains struggle to understand how someone could love a person that doesn’t deserve it. Yet, we are called to do EXACTLY that to the world around us. When we accept the love Christ has for us, we can turn around and give it to those around us.
We are not meant to remain stagnant. We are called to go and be Christ to others. To the least of those. To our enemies. And Christ IS love.
