In Your Love

Hi, me again!

Today's topic has quite a bit of depth to get into: setting an example through the way that we love. There are so many ideas out there about love and, many of these ideas actually contradict the very instructions that God gives us. 

For me personally, I grew up being a very guarded person. Meaning, I would show love to those who show love to me, keep at bay those who I am uncertain of and give no second chances to those I feel have taken my love for granted. 

This was the selfish idea I developed to protect myself from being hurt like I would have been in the past. Thankfully, there came a point where I was heavily convicted and I realized that my approach to love was not aligned with what the Bible says. 

#Loveis..

So what does the Bible say about love? Let's find out shall we? 

1. Love Doesn't Play "Favorites" 

 I think it is human nature that we gravitate to those whose personalities match our personalities. 

BUT, what about those people who disrespect us? Those people that are rude for no reason? What about those people we need to take an extra breath before we speak because they just make our blood boil? Let's be real. Those people exist.

 Do we not love those people? Well to answer all of these questions, let's look at Luke 6:27-28.

"Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you."

 I beg your finest pardon?? This response is remarkably different to the worldly reaction some of us would naturally have. 

However, further along in this scripture, Jesus really puts everything he has said into perspective. He said, 

"If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them". 

Remember, we are to be set apart from the rest of the world. Therefore we have to make the extra effort to not only love our friends and family but everyone.

 2. Love is Not About Self

   In my story earlier, I told you about how I looked out for myself first in my relationships with others.

    However, what my ways failed to fulfill, though a protective mechanism, was to value others above myself (Philippians 2:3). According to 1Corinthians 13:5, love is not self-seeking and I think it is of upmost importance our love in not based on convenience. Love is a gift God so willingly gives us when sometimes we may be undeserving. 

3. Love is About Sacrifice

   Speaking about gifts from God let's talk about the ultimate act of love. The sacrifice Jesus made when he gave his life on the cross for us. Not because we deserved it, but because we needed it. Jesus shows us that we should be willing to make sacrifices for others because love is not about what we can gain but rather what we can give. Through His love for us He gave His life, so how much more should we be willing to help those around us? 

   As I end off, I want each of us to reflect on the way we love those around us and be mindful that despite how challenging it may be at the end of the day we are all human. 

Until next time,

Nyeka