Back around Valentine's Day I started writing about love. I was
pondering how we love others and if loving others the way we receive
love, instead of how they receive love, is love at all. Well, I got
about knee deep in the blog and got stuck. Not so unusual. There are
lots of 1/2 written blogs in my repertoire.
This weekend we had
a conference. It was all focused on the Love of the Father God and
experiencing it. One of the speakers referenced one of my favorite
scriptures that says that perfect love casts out all fear. I was
thinking about this again this morning as I had allowed fear to totally
stop me in my tracks.
Have you ever thought of a scenario and
said, "Well if this happens I'm going to do this..." and then to your
complete and utter surprise it happens, but you can't seem to follow
through on what you said you would do? Yeah, that was me this morning.
I was totally and completely gripped by fear, and missed an opportunity
to show love to someone. I tried to overcome my fear, but by the time I
was ready to push through it I missed my opportunity.
The
irony of the situation takes us back to this past Friday afternoon, when
a combination of "perfect love casts out all fear" and an amazing quote
had me pondering an important question. Silja Hilton was one of the
speakers at the conference and she shared a quote from her Mom, Dr.
Melodye, "If you're not close enough to get hurt, you're not close
enough to make a difference." Some time on Saturday I had an epiphany
as all of the talk of love came together in my heart and mind. Because
if we have truly experienced, encountered the love of the Father then we
can't help but love others. And I realized that many times over my
life I have made the statement, "I'm loving them from a distance." The
thing is, you can't do that. The only way to truly love someone is to
get in the thick of it. You have to be willing to get hurt; willing to
get a little messy.
I was reminded of a story that Pastor Jane
always tells. She struggled with fear for quite a while. And she has
always been deathly afraid of snakes. One day her kids were playing
outside when her son ran in, crying and said, "Mommy, the snake looked
at me!" At that moment from somewhere within her arose a courage she
had never before known when it came to snakes. But this snake had
crossed the line from messing with her to messing with her baby. At
that point the perfect love for her son cast out all fear she had known
in the past. She didn't care about getting hurt, all she cared about
was protecting, loving, her child!
For days I've been asking how I
can show love to someone, this morning I had the opportunity and I
FROZE! DUMB! I don't think I have somehow thwarted my destiny, but I
don't know what that person might go through today and how God may have
intended me to help influence their day.
FDR said, "The only
thing we have to fear is fear itself!" I don't know where FDR was with
the Lord, but he had a word from the Lord when he spoke that. Fear is
the enemy of all things good and Godly! Fear stops us from putting
ourselves out there and showing people love because we are afraid of
getting hurt. But the Bible says, "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. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where
there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it
will pass away."
Two things strike me in this passage in 1
Corinthians that particularly apply to what I'm talking about. Love is
not self-seeking - That means true love is not based out of how we will
feel when it is all said and done. So if we're going to love someone we
have to be willing to put ourselves out there regardless of how they
may respond. Oh, and just a note, we're not responsible for whether or
not they receive the love we give. The second thing is love never fails
- So no matter the initial reaction of the person we have tried to
reach out and love, a seed has been planted in their hearts. And you
can't ever go wrong when genuinely trying to show someone self-less
love.
So, basically I'm challenging myself, and in turn
challenging you.... to step beyond your fear and love. What's the worst
that can happen?
Tomorrow night I'm preaching at my church for
the first time. I've spoken at youth and MTC, I've taught classes
during conferences, but I've never spoken at an actual church service.
I'm so stirred up. With everything God is doing in my life, all the
Apple Cart cleanout taking place, I'm totally wrecked for Him! It may
not always show on the outside if you're a casual acquaintance, but if
you're a close friend you have heard me talk about all that God is
showing me. So, stay posted, there's more to come....
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