"'Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?' Jesus replied: 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.'"
Matthew 22:36-40
Awhile back, my brother lent me a film called Furious Love -- a documentary about a man who went into the darkest places of the earth to test whether God's love truly transcends all. It's an inspiring, eye-opening documentary, and a must watch, for anyone grappling with the reality of the spiritual realm. (And, especially for those of us whose only exposure to the mysteries of God are through a limited "Western churchy" religion.) After running into a friend yesterday, and getting into a discussion about the film, I decided to watch it again, in hopes of getting Jeremy to watch it with me. I was thrilled that, with a little coaxing, he agreed to watch the film with me, and he even stated that it was different than what he had anticipated, and he liked it. I'll admit, it was even better the second time around, for me. And, God is impressing some strong things upon my heart, in response to the film.
The overarching theme that I got out of the film was that we, as Christians, are called, first and foremost, to LOVE people. Not because we have an agenda to "convert" them, but simply because that is what the Lord has commanded us to do! After all, no matter who the person is, nor what is their circumstance, God made that person, and knows the destiny that He has in store for that person! When I accepted Christ as my Savior, the Lord God made His dwelling inside of me. It is real. God is in me, and He is love, so therefore, I am to be love to others. ALL others. Because God loves EVERYONE.
And yet, suddenly, I have become acutely aware of how badly I fall short in this area. And, I'm not speaking just of "not loving" my enemies. I struggle with this commandment to LOVE, even to those who should be absolutely easiest for me to love! I mean, if I'm being perfectly honest (confession time), I'm probably kinder in my display of love to total strangers than I am to my own husband. I get so caught up in the frustrations of my day, and the first person I take it out on is poor Jeremy! (I mean, I'm sure that if there is one thing that may have him convinced there are such things as spiritual strongholds, it's in dealing with his his loonytoon wife, some days!) And, yet, he is the one I am in covenant to love above all else besides God! So, if I can't demonstrate the full scope of 1 Corinthians 13 love to him, that God calls me to, then how can I ever expect to get it right with my enemies? And, furthermore, why is it so dadgum difficult for me to do this?? (I think I have a snippet of an idea, but I'll get to it in a minute.)
What does the Word say about love? I've read it a million times, but suddenly, I get it! Read it again:
"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all the mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, 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.
Love never fails..."
1 Corinthians 13:1-8
Sounds ideal, doesn't it? And, you may think (as I have) that that is an impossible level of love to get to. Well, if I remember correctly,
"With man this is impossible, but with God, all things are possible."
Matthew 19:26, Luke 1:37
See, I think the Failure to Love phenomenon goes back to an Identity Crisis. (For more on Image vs. Identity, I highly Recommend the CD series of that name by Bob Hazlett). We (or, I, at least), as Christians, are failing to embrace our true identity in Christ. We can't do the "right" things (and praise be to God we don't have to, thanks to GRACE) - in-and-of ourselves, that is. Our natural mind is constantly at battle with our spiritual nature, which has been 100% redeemed. We have to stop surrendering to sin, and instead surrendering to God. We have the mind of Christ! Christ is LOVE. When we walk in that Truth, and remember who we are, and Whose we are, we walk in the power to overcome the impossible! If LOVING is the GREATEST commandment, then how much more does God long to empower us to embody that commandment?!?! THAT is how we become the hands and feet of Jesus. Not just to strangers, and "the lost," but within our very homes, within our very families, within our very workplaces! In the places where we spend the most time and, consequently, have the most "trying" relationships. It's easy to be patient when you spend limited time around someone. But, to be patient with your mother, who is constantly trying to dictate how you run your life? Or the colleague who is the Negative Nancy or the Know it All? Or the girlfriend who gossips about everyone (and probably even you, when you're not around). Loving that person requires the grace of God - the ability to see that person how God sees her!
And, what about the times when you feel unloved by others? I mean, I think everyone who is married understands that there are times when you naturally feel like your spouse is not showing you enough love. Or what about when your lifelong friend betrays your trust? What then? Do you still love? YES! Because we are not called to love because we feel loved by others. No. But, rather, we are called to love because He first loved us!
We can only do this when we set our hearts and minds on things above. When we see ourselves the way God sees us, and can then see others the way God sees them -- as clay vessels, our Potter's very own display of workmanship!
And, what about the times when you feel unloved by others? I mean, I think everyone who is married understands that there are times when you naturally feel like your spouse is not showing you enough love. Or what about when your lifelong friend betrays your trust? What then? Do you still love? YES! Because we are not called to love because we feel loved by others. No. But, rather, we are called to love because He first loved us!
"We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, 'I love God,' yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother."
1 John 4:19-21
And, the good news, is He is here. He is now! He is the overcomer within you! It is through His eyes that we see others the way He sees them.
He is Love.
And HE is IN you!
WALK IN THAT TRUTH! EMBRACE IT! LIVE IT!!
And, once we learn to love those closest to us, in the way that God commands, then I can only imagine Christ's love grows even more abundantly in our hearts, so that we can reach out and love even those who, to the world, seem unlovable!
The Holy Spirit moved within my heart to pray a prayer like this during Worship this morning:
"God I pray that your Spirit fills every part of my being so that You are so present and active and alive in me that the tables are turned, and the Natural can't even get a word in edgewise."
Sometimes, God grows me up in secret places that I don't even pick up on,but I love it when He starts growing me up in very specific and obvious areas that I can recognize :) Thank you, Lord!
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