“Love the Lord
your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your
mind.” (Matthew 22:37 NIV) and
“Love your neighbor as yourself.”(Matthew 22:39 NIV)
your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your
mind.” (Matthew 22:37 NIV) and
“Love your neighbor as yourself.”(Matthew 22:39 NIV)
Have you ever heard
someone say, “I fell in love with him/her at an early age but I don’t love
him/her anymore,” or something like
it? What about this, “I can’t like that person. He/she’s so . . . (fill in
the blank)?
someone say, “I fell in love with him/her at an early age but I don’t love
him/her anymore,” or something like
it? What about this, “I can’t like that person. He/she’s so . . . (fill in
the blank)?
Without exception,
in every church I have served over the years there has been at least one person
who is obnoxious and obstinately uncooperative. Now granted, people do have
personality clashes, yet moaning and groaning and complaining about everything that
isn’t agreeable is more than personality differences.
in every church I have served over the years there has been at least one person
who is obnoxious and obstinately uncooperative. Now granted, people do have
personality clashes, yet moaning and groaning and complaining about everything that
isn’t agreeable is more than personality differences.
In addition, over
the last 43 years of marriage there have been times when my darling hasn’t been
so darling. Her sweetness wasn’t so sweet and my mouth called her
“Honey” but didn’t savor it at all. I could have left and justified
my leaving by using the “falling out of love” excuse. Believe me, I was tempted, and I am certain
she has been too, but we made a commitment (decision) to love each other for
better or worse until death.
the last 43 years of marriage there have been times when my darling hasn’t been
so darling. Her sweetness wasn’t so sweet and my mouth called her
“Honey” but didn’t savor it at all. I could have left and justified
my leaving by using the “falling out of love” excuse. Believe me, I was tempted, and I am certain
she has been too, but we made a commitment (decision) to love each other for
better or worse until death.
We all know God’s
two greatest commandments involve our decision to love, but we don’t and many
times we convince ourselves we never could. The issue, however, may be that we
don’t know how to love. All we really need to know is that Jesus commanded it, but
a command doesn’t always get it done, even for Christians.
two greatest commandments involve our decision to love, but we don’t and many
times we convince ourselves we never could. The issue, however, may be that we
don’t know how to love. All we really need to know is that Jesus commanded it, but
a command doesn’t always get it done, even for Christians.
Love is a dazzling element of life, but it begins with respect for a person. Love is a decision not
an uncontrollable emotion. It is a willful action. Love is what we extend to
another person, even when we don’t feel it or that person isn’t particularly
loveable. Remember, God decided to love us despite our unattractive,
unpleasant, unlikeable nature.
an uncontrollable emotion. It is a willful action. Love is what we extend to
another person, even when we don’t feel it or that person isn’t particularly
loveable. Remember, God decided to love us despite our unattractive,
unpleasant, unlikeable nature.
Yes, there are still
days when I find it difficult to love some people, like the Lord commanded.
Yet, I am confident that my decision to love, my respect for them and a silent
prayer will prevail. Knowing that God didn’t fall in love with me but decided to
love me no matter what has made all the difference in my commitment to love
others. And it is amazing how much love I get in return.
days when I find it difficult to love some people, like the Lord commanded.
Yet, I am confident that my decision to love, my respect for them and a silent
prayer will prevail. Knowing that God didn’t fall in love with me but decided to
love me no matter what has made all the difference in my commitment to love
others. And it is amazing how much love I get in return.
Dear Father, thank
you for loving me despite myself. Empower me to return your love and love
others like I love myself. I pray this in the name of Jesus. AMEN
you for loving me despite myself. Empower me to return your love and love
others like I love myself. I pray this in the name of Jesus. AMEN
Express your love
for God and your neighbor today,
for God and your neighbor today,