When I first jumped on this band wagon and started following Jesus full heartedly He gave me a little phrase that I have only recently understood the meaning of on a very basic level: Go, Love, and Be Loved! I have recently asked God what exactly this means and He has blown me away by His answer!
"I am the Alpha and the Omega–the beginning and the end," says the Lord God – Revelation 1:8
This was the first thing the Lord reminded me of when I asked Him the question. He continued and told me the following: Because I am the beginning and the end I begin things with the end in mind ALWAYS. So, begin looking at the last word so that you may understand my purpose!”
Be Loved: The Lord gave me the revelation that I came into His presence and started following Him only because I was first loved (1 John 4:19). He showed me that I would never have had the desire in my heart to chase after Him and shout YES to Jesus if He had not first loved me. So in all of this I have come to realize one thing: I am only alive and here on earth to fulfill one purpose….to be loved by the Father!
Next the Lord showed me the first step: Go – Matthew 28:19-20 “19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” – When we say YES to Jesus and choose to follow Him with our entire lives He will guide us into many situations that will require us to “go”. This can look like many things from going on mission trips, to talking to a random stranger on the street in your hometown. The place isn’t of importance, what is however is that we do what we’re told and obey God in reverence and trust.
Love: 1 Corinthians 13:3 – “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” The Lord told me that no matter where I go or where He sends me He only wants me to do one thing: love. I’m to love the people I come into contact with as I have been loved (1 John 4:19).
Be Loved: When I thought I was finished with the revelation the Lord slapped me one last time with this. Because He is the beginning and the end and because we are here to be loved by Him, He wants us to remember that throughout life no matter what we’re doing, no matter where we’re going, and no matter who we’re loving, our biggest objective is to let God love us as He will!
Part 2 to come….
