Division and strife abounds everywhere we look. We see it in the headlines, we see it in our Facebook and Twitter feeds, we see it in politics, sports and in our churches. It's obvious that we are finding it next to impossible to love one another well.
When I was a young wife and mama, long before podcasts and audio book apps, there was a Christian radio station that used to have an afternoon program in which they would read a book aloud. I vividly remember hearing some author of some long ago forgotten book title state that human love is a limited resource, it eventually runs out. The author then went on to use marriage as an example, sharing that it's very common to wake up one day to find that loving feeling gone. The author then when on to say that we need to be plugged in to a source of limitless love, which is the unconditional love of God.
Let's face it, it's sometimes hard to even love the people under our own roof well. No wonder we find it next to impossible to love someone who's political views are different than ours, who's skin color and/or culture is different than ours, who's life experience is different than ours, who's belief system is different than ours. No amount of lecturing, finger pointing, guilting or shaming is an effective motivation for us to love others better. We can know that we should love our neighbor better, but knowing we should and being able to genuinely love them are worlds apart. (Join me for the rest of this post on Sunday, October 1st, at Woman to Woman Ministries where each Sunday I share a bit of Sunday Soul Food!)
still following,
There is division everywhere we look and yes, within our homes as well. You are so very right when you say we can't always "feel it". And yet we still must act out of love. So much of life is doing what we know is right regardless of our feelings.
ReplyDeleteI agree! We must connect to the Source of love, to God's love, and let it flow to us an through us. We must also choose acts of love even when we don't feel loving.
DeleteKnowing and loving God first and taking in his unconditional love should be the example instead of as loving ourselves. In fact, sometimes loving God is easier than loving oneself. So finding his unconditional is a help in that area too. I know since I wholeheartedly started reading his word every single day, the reminder is there. Oh, I slip and my head starts to think negative about people; especially in today's world of all things changing, but then there his voice is in my head reminding me, love one another in a good way even if I don't agree. I am reminded then of the tongue and it's power. You are so right...knowing we should and doing it is world's apart. It's easy to Love God, but the neighbor....but with God in our hearts, we can.
ReplyDeletePeabea@Peabea Scribbles
Yes, only with God's love in our hearts can we love others as we should.
DeleteThe first part of this verse is equally difficult. How many of us can say that we truly love the Lord with ALL our heart, soul, strength and mind? Yet, His love for us is perfect and unconditional!
ReplyDeleteAnd yet, God even pours His love into us and through us to help us to love Him as we should!
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