The passage I read was 1 John 4:7-21
You can find that passage here:
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+John+4:7-21&version=NIV
My summary of the passage is this:
It’s all about love yall. We gotta love each other. God shows us love and if He is in us we must show others love too. If we don’t have love, then we don’t have God in us and we are not abiding in God. God is love. Perfect love drives out fear.
As I reflect:
Alright. I totally surrender already. I get it. This whole week I am going to have it drilled into me just how important loving others is. Perhaps it’s God’s way of letting me know how He is working on me. That we are not going to first remove judgment of others to receive love in its place, but rather that as we increase love my judgment of others will decrease. His plans are often different than ours and I’m totally down with that. So, I’m trying. I’m trying to love others in the right ways for the right reasons. When I witness on the streets it is a result of loving people and caring about where they will spend eternity. It’s also out of a since of duty in that all Christians have been called to witness to others (as is our great commission). That being said, I have to remember constantly not to slip over to the duty side instead of the love side. My motive for reaching out to others must be love driven and Holy Spirit empowered. Likewise must my actions in the home for my family and among my friends and family members be of proper motive. I sometimes tend to lean to the duty side of my walk in Christ and must strengthen the love side more. Perhaps that’s what this week is all about for me. Perhaps it’s a practical exercise to strengthen the area that I am weak.
My greatest sins of judgment are against fellow believers who claim Christianity but live like the rest of the world. I should stay focused strongly on learning to love them instead of judge them this week. As hard as that is for me, may the Lord move in me every step of the way that my efforts be multiplied and there be successful growth in this journey.
A key thought that I am going to keep with me is this:
“How can I love the lost but not the found? If you are a believer and lack good fruit, I should help you to grow instead of judging you and condemning your false Christianity.”
My response to the Lord:
Lord, how much more than this short definition of my failure do you know me? You know the depths of my heart for you have placed it in me. I evidently lack the ability to properly use all the functions in this new heart you have given me. For this I am in great need of your Helper. I pray your Holy Spirit work in and through me all this week and all this life that I may learn to love more those who lie and live false lives just as you loved me when I was the exact opposite of who you have made me today. Lord, I often call this area of fakey Christians my “pet peeve”. That is such a human concept and I pray that you would completely remove it from me. That, or cause me to knock over temple tables. Lol. Whichever your will be for the future of this vessel, but one way or the other that I would no longer be so judgmental of those who claim brotherhood with me. Give me your eyes to see Father. Fill my heart with your love. In Jesus name.
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