Love is
the very essence of life, God is love and we are commanded to love first of all
God and then others. The key to understanding how love works is to seek
the good of others above yourself. The way to experience love is to
actually give it away! Sadly when we seek love for ourselves
from others and don’t find it, the sense of lack causes us to fail to give away
love, a never ending cycle of disappointment fuelled by selfish desires and
fear.
When we are
relating to someone we are either giving our full attention (love) to them or
trying to get something from them (self) ; either giving or getting attention.
The motives behind these actions leave the recipient with a totally different
experience. Have you ever found that some people really drain you? Watch
next time and see if they are giving or taking when they speak to you. A mutual
loving relationship is where two people are looking to the needs of the other,
both should feel loved, respected and appreciated.
” You
shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and
with all your might”(Deut 6:5)
“A new
commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you,
that you also love one another. “(John 13:34)
“We have
come to know and have believed the love which God has for us God is love, and
the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.” (1 John 4:16)“22
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience,
kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, self-control;
against such things there is no law.” (Gal 5:21-23)
Loving
someone allows them the space to be themselves, without selfish desires on our
part for them to be different in order to suit us. Loving something is
not dependent on liking it. It’s ok to accept what actually is at the
present moment and to prefer something else be happening. Being a
Christian means we have access to the greatest source of love, peace and joy
throughout all eternity. Our
emotions and thoughts can rule us, yet we are meant to be Spirit led; the only
way we can do this is to firstly trust your source of love, life, hope, grace and mercy.
Jesus Christ
Rev. Julie Shannon
Highway of Hope Christian Church
Highway of Hope Christian Church