The Apostle Paul urges believers to live a life that is characterized by an increasing love for others, a steady, quiet calm, and hard work. (I Thess 4:9-12).
There is so much to unpack in these few sentences.
We are to love others with an increasing love.
And that one, hit me hard. (Like right between the eyes, hard!)
The older I’ve become, the more I look at the crazy world, the more I see others calling wrong things right, the more I find myself wanting to pull away and only love a few that I consider “safe”.
I’ve joked with a few close friends and family that I’d like to start a commune. (Except, I was not totally joking, because I kind of really would like to pull away… with a few I trust and like.)
Loving others is messy and hard. Speaking truth may offend others, and they will often let you know they are offended.🤨
The thing is, I don’t really want to keep putting my heart out there to be trampled by those who may misunderstand, criticize, and hurt me.
I feel the urge to make my circle smaller, not larger. Anyone else?
But, this attitude is simply not godly.
God so loved the world that He gave!(John 3:16) He didn’t hold back! As I truly think on that, I’m raising my hands THANKFUL that God didn’t hold back!
He loved us first… He didn’t require us to love Him, or think biblically right on everything before He loved us! (1John 4:19) He loved our unlovely selves long before we ever gave Him a thought! (Rom 5:8) While we were still His enemies in fact! (Rom 5:10).
I bet, like me, you can think of a few folks that seem like enemies to you. How about the ones that seem like they are lost causes? How are we doing at loving them?
It’s hard.
I get that.
I feel that.
But Jesus suffered LONG with us! (2 Pet 3:9) He forgave and still forgives us over and over! (Lam 3:22-23)
And when I look to Jesus, I’ve got absolutely no excuse, but to love others because He loves me.
All of them.
We can’t pick and choose.
Whomever, God places in our path, is someone to love and show the love of Christ.
We don’t have to agree with them on everything, or call wrong things right, but we are to show the love of Christ to them.
It doesn’t matter how messed up we think others are, the truth is, Jesus loved our messed up selves; and we are to love others because He loved us.(Matt 22:37-39)
Period. ❤️
So, no commune for me! 😉
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