So I have prayed about, read about it and tried to walk in love everywhere. From neighbors, to strangers, to family and coworkers in the small stuff all the way to my first missions trip to Guatemala.
I shared with friends last week that as I love....and God reveals what it truly means to love.... to put it all on the line....to risk being hurt, to push through even when you feel people do not deserve it or at their best; I have learned to see how much I need to grow and change. It has stretched me beyond my selfish tendencies and as I continue to walk in obedience to love, I know that it kills my self centered desires and focus that comes so much easier then I imagined.
With the amazing opportunity to serve along side Calvary La Esperanza in Guatemala, we were reminded by their pastor and leaders before every outing that our job was to LOVE on the people of Guatemala. Whether we were inviting kids to VBS, praying with strangers on the streets, or delivering food to impoverished homes-- our primary concern would be to show the love of Jesus. To pray that they know the love of Christ. The emphasis was placed on us planting seeds....as people who know that we cannot control the outcome of those seeds. This took so much pressure off for me!
In the same way, I have been given the opportunity to be an apprentice to lead some classes at church. What I am learning there too is its my job to listen.... to ask questions that God would lead me to and point people back to the Gospel. My job is to love them.... love God and let Him do the work. The point is made we are not trying to get to an end or resolve everyone's issues... but to know that God will continue to be at work in their lives even if we do not see it during the course of the six weeks the classes take place.
Loving has also meant putting down barriers. Allowing people into our lives, our homes. Sharing our family and our flaws. This has led to an amazing friendship with a family at our church. The Branwells have been friends for almost 3 years now, but this year in particular we have gotten so much closer. Perhaps it was the word Love that sparked it but we have been able to walk life together. From family outings, dinners after church, prayers through hospital stays and doctor visits and date nights, we have learned the meaning of family in Christ. Our kids have grown together in the past few years and genuinely enjoy each others companies even fighting as siblings at time. She is someone I can text to pray for me and just people we know are gifts from God. A family we have grown to love. and yet this past week, they broke the news they are moving back to Seattle. I am still processing the heart break and the "bitter" jokes that come with it. But because we love them, we are proud of them stepping out in obedience to what God has called them to do and are praying for them every step of the way.
Love seemed too simple of a word for me. I was almost dissapointed by it thinking God surely must think I do not "love" others well enough. And yet thats exactly what I have come to the realization of. Even knowing God's selfless sacrificial love, I was still stuck in the notion of a superficial love. A love that responds to love given to me....a love that is thanked, and a love that gets to feel good all the time. But last night it finally hit me...
My job is to love. Through the need. Through the difficulty. Through it all. Without worrying about the outcome.
So yes Love means putting yourself out there....risking embarrasment or hurt....love means loving those that cannot love you back....love means being a good listener.... an encourager....a good prayer and support....it means being transparent and putting it all on the line.... being a representative of the Love Christ so has freely given us without worrying about the outcome. Thats God's job.
I always wanted to know that if I loved well people would change or see their need for Christ or even be my friend forever and thats simply not how love works. Love is what you plant.... and you may not always see the harvest.
I encourage you today to evaluate God's love for you and the way you give it. Go out there and share the Love of Christ. Its gonna cost you, but its worth it. Its our calling. Walk in it.
Love❤,
Meli
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