It is so easy to walk away... get rid of... move on... lash out... ignore or simply justify our behavior, however we are asked to respond differently.
Above everything we are to LOVE!!!
God is love.
Loving people intentionally is in turn loving God himself.
I have been challenged in the way I "thought" I loved people. I "thought" I was doing a pretty good job.
After all I serve, I smile, I include.....I...I...I!!!
When I read 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, I now see that in order to love someone I must make a conscience choice. It is a decision I make even when I don't 'feel' like it. It doesn't rationalize or qualify it just loves.
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not self seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."
Understanding that God is love helps me also understand that I will never be perfect in the way I do it. The closer I walk with God and the more I try to be like Him, the more my love will be evident.
The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” Luke 18:11-14
As we move throughout our day, encounter difficult people, see the sins of others, at times we are treated badly, when your emails are ignored and you feel like you are not seen...
May we take on the one characteristic of God that is the greatest of all...
LOVE!!!
How do you love?
Do you place conditions and expectations on those you are willing to love?
Telling someone that you love them doesn't go very far...
The Pharisees thought if they did all the right 'things' and followed all of the rules, that Jesus would be pleased with them. But we see in the passage above that God wants us to be humble, not comparing ourselves to one another but making our behavior line up with Christ.
He is after our hearts...
He is after you...
The more we learn to love intentionally... the more we learn to love God himself.
Daily practice the characteristics of loving... Your actions matter... Ignoring people doesn't make them go away.
Loving them as Christ loves.....
changes your heart...
Are you ready for a new heart and a new way of living...
Take an opportunity to Love Intentionally today.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pr9YVD05x8M&feature=youtu.be
Listen to 'For King and Country' Let your life be the proof of His love.
Comment below... I want your feedback. Did you learn anything from this 14 days...? Please share so that others can see what God is doing in your life.
What series would you be interested in next time????
Nic,
ReplyDeleteYou are such a gifted writer. Thanks for posting! For some reason I didn't get all 14 days but now I have them. Since I am currently seperated from my husband and really struggling with the decision to divorce and second guessing my original decision, this series comes in handy for me. The phrase that grabbed hold was this one; Do you place conditions and expectations on those you are willing to love? Wow! Talk about an ah ha moment. Anyway, thanks, and keep it up! Love and miss you. JG