Recently, I was asked to speak at a local church for their Valentine's Day program. What I loved about the program was the celebration was done with EVERYONE in mind. Not just couples, but EVERYONE. The Pastor wanted a time for God's people to come together and celebrate LOVE and to Love on one another.
I've spoken before about what love truly is, and of course we all think of 1 Corinthians 13 when we think about what love is and what it isn't. We're even more mindful to tell others that love is not how Hollywood presents it, but requires commitment, effort, communication, respect, time and to put it simply.....it requires work.
Well, a few days before the event, my 6 year old son walked into my office and wrote me a note. He then asked me if his handwriting had improved. I glanced over and saw that indeed, it had improved and we celebrated with Kudos to Tyler!! But I didn't concentrate on the note.
A day or so later, I was sitting at my desk and asked the Lord what He would have me share with His people. In that moment, He told me to read the note my son wrote. Here it is:
"I love you momy because you do a lot of stuff for us." to: momy from: tyler
Isn't that sweet? It made me smile. My son writing me a note expressing his love for me. Then God asked me, "Why do you love Tyler?" Tilting my head and briefly thinking, I responded, 'Because he's my baby. He's my son. I love him because he's mine. He's just my son and that's enough!"
Then God asked me, why do I love Him. I started telling Him, because You are so merciful, wonderful, gracious! You take care of me and provide for me! You died for me! You saved me! You've seen me through so much and You........... And revelation just began to fall. Holy Spirit was just speaking and downloading in me His LOVE for His children, that did not have a because.......
Look back at Tyler's note. He loves me because....... He had a because. He said, "I love you momy BECAUSE you do a lot of stuff for us." But, when God asked me why I loved Tyler, I didn't have a because with reasons, I had a because which was JUST BECAUSE!
Is He speaking to you now? Is He showing you? Is He??? Oh, it's so powerful!
In this moment, my heart began to really understand what He means when He tells us that we Love Him because He first Loved us!
Everything begins with Him. He is I AM. The Beginning and the End.
Just as I carried my children in my womb and loved them from the moment I learned of their conception, (not because of anything that they had done or would do, but because they were mine.), so it is with God.
And in the natural, where does this life begin? It begins with man and woman coming together and creating the child. It begins with Mommy & Daddy, the parents. Like wise, in the spiritual, it begins with God. (Daddy) He loves us because we are His creation. Conceived from the dust of the earth and His life being breathed into us making us a living soul. His love started with Him and isn't based on what we do, have done or will do. He just LOVES US!!!!! Glory to God!!!!!
Now that we have this understanding, God wants us to mature in this kind of Love. It's a love that surpasses understanding.
We should all mature into
a love that surpasses what a person does to just loving them. This kind of Love comes from God. Remember, everything begins and ends with Him.
Philippians 2: 13...."for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure."
So, who are we and what's our role in all of this?
We are conduits' of God!
We are His mouthpiece, His hands, His feet, the hug that He gives. We are made in His image, a vessel of change
in the earth. He chose us to help Him
share who He is with the world, and to bring His Love into the earth!
So, what does that look like in the earth? Loving each other? Let's go to the Word of God and talk just a little bit more.
John 13:34-35
English Standard Version
34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another:
just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35
By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” Look at that! We are too love others like HE loves us.
Without conditions. This love surpasses understanding. We have to get this. AND, that is how we are recognized as His, by loving one another. That's powerful!
Here's another...
Matthew 5:43-48
English Standard Version
Love Your Enemies
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you,
Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45
so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers,[a] what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48
You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Here it is again. Loving others, even our enemies so that we will be His children. That's what HIS babies do. Are you His baby? Are you perfect as He is perfect? This perfection isn't as if we don't error, but perfection is found in Him,...where my heart leads me to Love as He Loves, because I am His child.
Just today, I allowed frustration to get the best of me and my mouth went off! I was so hurt that I had succumbed to my frustrations. But, soon thereafter, I repented and apologized and received God's forgiveness, because I am His child and I Love as He loves. He teaches me that. I wasn't born that way. I was born with conditions. I love you because you......, but now, whether you DO anything to me or FOR me, I can Love you, without any condition whatsoever! Get it?
In closing, it all comes down to motives. What is in your heart? What moves you to do what you do?
- Is it for recognition?
- Is it because that's what I am supposed to do?
- Or, is it WHO YOU ARE? (Having found your identity in Christ. Having the mind of Christ. Realizing that we are a reflection of Him in the earth. We are Him!)
There was a Pastor who consulted a friend of mine about not being able to get people to join in with the ministry's work. He was frustrated! My friend asked him why was he doing the work, and his response was because we are suppose to. Uh-Oh! My friend told him, "That's your problem, right there. We don't do what we do like some legalistic checklist, but we do what we do out of Love." Jesus did what He did out of love. Don't love to receive some worldly recognition; to have others notice you. (If that's in your heart, you'll know it.) Don't love like it's a "to-do checklist". Love because that is who you are. A reflection of Jesus. Motivated by genuine love.
I mean,... why do you obey your mom and dad? Is it just because it's the right thing to do, or is Love a motivator? I'm telling you, having love as a motivator for us will weaken and/or dismiss the enemies ability to frustrate us about anything.
I encourage you. Ask God for 20/20 vision. His spiritual vision. And, let's take that with us every day. Let's see people as He does. Giving each other the benefit of the doubt. Bearing one another's burdens. Not being so easily offended. Smiling and speaking when we see each other and make eye contact with you one another. And the list goes on.....
Regardless of how people respond to your love, ... that doesn't matter. Some may never say thank you. Doesn't matter. They may not speak back. Doesn't matter. Simply, plant the seed. It won't be forgotten. It will be watered. God will bring the increase.
Hey...
I LOVE YOU!!!!!!! : )
