I almost didn’t post a blog today because I couldn’t decide
what I wanted to post. I try to always
post something that truly resonates with me and therefore may make an impact
with some of you. I figure, if it made a
positive difference in my life, perhaps it’ll make a positive difference in
someone else’s so I share it. Today, I just couldn’t think of anything I
really, really wanted to post. I realize
that those of you who read my blog take time out of your day to do so and I
truly value that. I feel obligated to
post the best of what I have to give and trust it’ll speak to those it relates
to. Therefore, when I couldn’t feel passionate about posting anything in
particular…I almost didn’t post at all.
The husband encouraged me to post and his exact words were “Whatever you
post will be epic.” Haha! He’s so sweet and really believes in me which makes
me love him all the more…even when he uses words like “epic”. ;-) Anyway, I
regrouped and sat still for a moment and then it hit me...Love! I know what you
must be thinking…I’ve already posted blogs about love and you’re right, I
have. But this time, I’m just going to
rant…I’m not going to my dictionary.com app or to 1 Corinthians 13. I’m just going to speak from my heart. So bear with me if you will as I do just
that.
There’s a song on the radio right now by Casting Crowns
titled, “Jesus, Friend of Sinners” that has been playing a lot lately. The lyrics to the song are very powerful and
I want to share the chorus here:
“Oh Jesus, friend of sinners…Open our eyes to the world at
the end of our pointing fingers. Let our
hearts be led by mercy, help us reach with open hearts and open doors. Oh,
Jesus friend of sinners, break our hearts for what breaks yours.”
This next line really stuck out to me and is what inspired
me to write this blog:
“Nobody knows what we’re for only what we’re against when we
judge the wounded. What if we put down
our signs crossed over the lines and loved like you did?”
It’s so easy to love people that believe like us, look like
us, sound like us…but what about those that don’t? How do we show the love of Jesus if we’re not
willing to stop picking at the speck we think we see in someone else’s eye and
remove the giant two by four in ours?
This song made me ask myself these questions. Love is patient and kind…are we? Okay, I lied…I
am going back to 1 Corinthians 13 after all. Ha! In verse 5 the Amplified version reads
like this, “It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not
rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God’s love in us) does not insist on
its own rights or its own way…” God’s love lives in us! This is how we should
love…EVERYONE. It isn’t easy but it’s
really simple. Just love. It’s already in us…we just have to let it
out. That’s great news! We don’t have to
try to love or strive to love…we just have to allow God to love people through
us. People don’t feel loved if they feel
judged or looked down upon. People don’t
feel loved if they feel inferior or belittled.
None of us feels loved in those circumstances.
The Bible says that God so loved the world…not just some of
us…not just a few of us…not just the righteous or religious or clean. No. God
so loved the WORLD, that He gave His only Son, that WHOEVER (not just the
righteous or religious or clean, not a particular denomination, not even just
church people) believes in Him will have everlasting life! Who are we to determine who is worthy of that
kind of love? I know I am not. I need
His grace and mercy and unfailing love as much as or more than anyone else so I
am determined to tap into that love inside me and pay it forward. I have asked the Lord to forgive me for being
judgmental or self-righteous if I have been towards anyone. I don’t want that in me. I want to overflow
with love so that anyone (and I do mean anyone) I come into contact with will
feel that love in one way or another.
Like I said earlier…it isn’t easy. Sometimes I’m not going to feel like it. Some people will rub me the wrong way. Some will hurt me. Some will disappoint me. Others, I won’t agree with on anything. But
Jesus said the best way we can show we love Him is by loving each other. His love lives in me, I just need to share it
and not hog it all for myself. By
sharing it, it’ll actually increase in me! And you! God is just awesome like
that! And when I do slack, not if…when…that’s
when His mercy covers me. That’s when I
drink in His grace and move forward knowing He knows my heart is to do His will…knowing
He loves me and that makes me love Him all the more. And knowing I will do
better next time because His strength is made perfect in my weakness. So I won’t beat myself up for having a bad
day or bad moment. His grace is
sufficient for me. His love covers a multitude
of sins. God IS love!
I hope this motivated someone, encouraged someone, and/or inspired
someone. I know this post was a little
more rambling than my others but I was truly typing out my heart as it flowed
from me. I suppose the greatest notion of love is that it is What and Who God
is. Knowing Him means knowing love in its purest form.
Where is the love? It’s
in us! Let’s let it flow!!
Until next time…much love and many blessings,
Nancy
Your "heart" opened up for all to see - oh my, what a beautiful treasure!! Your thoughts are relevant and timely for each one of us, individually, as well as corporately as the "church". To have Christ's heart would mean loving everyone - and all of us are a "work in progress" in that area. TY Nancy (the "Awesome")!!
ReplyDeleteAww...thank you so much! I so appreciate the encouragement especially from you. :-)
Delete