to love others

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Permalink Reply by Carla on June 21, 2012 at 8:26am

There is a very present reality of women being 'trafficked' in the USA and also in Canada.  These women are quite often forced into sex slavery.  There is a movement of God that is exposing this terrible injustice and laws are now beginning to change.  It's quite possible this women that you saw is being forced into this way of life and does not see a way out.  ...so much more to say about this...but I just wanted to say something as I have only been aware of the realities of it over this past year.

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Permalink Reply by Mary O on June 21, 2012 at 7:07am

Hi Jen, God bless!

This verse came to mind this morning...

“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.  (Matthew 5:14-16)

You are a precious creation of God.   :-)

Instead of trying to push it, I know a lot of people get nervous about witnessing. Maybe relax a little bit and let God bring people to you. Live your life as an example and epistle. People will see it and want what you have (Jesus).

Love,

Mary

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Permalink Reply by adam chung on June 21, 2012 at 1:38pm

I think we can all relate to this at one point or another.  However, I believe that if we experience God's love, then it should radiate from us and be passed to others.  What better way to share God's love than to pass someone and give them a smile of encouragement.  I also struggled with this and after a while it became quite discouraging when you hold the door for someone and look at them straight in the eyes and smile, and they don't even bat an eye or even notice you are there.  However, even though this may be discouraging, it shouldn't prevent us from continuing on.  To express love and kindness isn't to expect anything in return.  Maybe love from the world is like this, but the love from God, which we should have isn't.  God's love is known as unconditional love, or "agape" love in Greek.  It means loving no matter the circumstance, or even if the love is not reciprocated.  To love only to be loved in return is selfish.  We are called to have this type of unselfish love, which we do not possess on our own, but only comes from God.  With the Holy Spirit in us, we can love others in this manner.  Don't get discouraged or give up hope!  That is what love is all about.  I would recommend trying to encourage people, even if its just with a smile, and even if they don't smile back.  Its definitely not easy.  Even as a guy, I find it difficult to express my emotions and try to have a look of compassion.  But the more I experience God's love, the more it wells up inside of me and starts to come out.  Continue to pray for God's love.  You may not get it overnight, but if you keep praying sincerely, God will grant it to you!  I will be praying for you as well, that God will open your heart to others and soften the hard spots so that you may be able to express your love to others more!

God bless!

-Adam 

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"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." Deut. 6.

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Permalink Reply by David Velasquez on June 21, 2012 at 7:49pm

 

To love others as we should, according to the leading of the Holy Spirit, I had to have God helped me with that. I have asked him multiple times to help me do that, and He always does, He always helps. He is a loving God, who loves to love through us, so He really answers that prayer quickly.

 

Continue to ask God to help you love people how He will lead you to love them. Love manifests itself in multiple ways, so the way you love one person may not be the way you love another.

 

Blessings

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Permalink Reply by Colby on July 24, 2012 at 11:12am

"So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once
regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer"   (2 Corinthians 5:16).

Jenny,

You're on the right track.  I can relate to what you're saying here.  You see, I struggle with loving others, too.   I know I do.   I believe I'm getting better at it with the help of the Holy Spirit, but I also know I still have a long way to go. Sometimes my feelings still trap me.   I still allow my feelings and prejudices to dictate whether or not I practice loving behavior with another person.

In the Gospel, love and the cross are synonymous.  As Christians, you and I would have no idea of what love could possibly mean apart from the love poured out and displayed for us on the cross of Jesus.   Jesus and his cross define love for you and me.  If love is based on our feelings, then we'll only act according to our feelings.  But if our love is based on what God did for us in the cross of Jesus, then our feelings take a back seat.

Now I know this approach to loving others goes counter to our culture. In our culture feelings reign supreme.  Feelings are the prime cultural motivator for how we judge our relationship to another person. 

The Apostle Paul urges us to imitate Jesus; to follow him as our model in the way he served and gave his life selflessly to others, and in the ways he loved all people.  He makes this clear in Philippians 2:3-8:

"Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than
yourselves.  Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others.
Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of
God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form,
he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death - even death on a cross."

We do not have to concern ourselves with whether someone is worthy of our love, or whether they deserve our love, or even if they need our love.  We need not concern ourselves with their social status,  religion, ethnicity/nationality, etc.   All we need to do is love them and trust that God will use our love to expand the Kingdom on earth as it already is in heaven.

Love simply requires that we choose to love others, come what may, cost what it will.

• "Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do what I tell you?" (Luke 7:46)

• "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you” (John 15:12).

 

If we want to follow Jesus, then that is our calling. For that is the only way we can make incarnate for others the truth of the Gospel.

 

"What God’s people must realize is that they are set apart by God not for cachet, but for a calling.
When pride begins to confuse that mission we are no longer a source of blessing and often an
outright obstacle to blessing. If we carry the Christian badge or wear the label with satisfaction
or smugness it is phony, counterfeit. We are to be a people bowed in worship, humility, and service.
We have nothing to boast about except Jesus—not the Jesus we 'have,' but the Jesus who has us." ~ http://bearcreekbible.wordpress.com/2012/07/14/isaiah-19-21-hebrews...

 

But by the grace of God I am what I am.

Grace, peace and blessings,

 

Colby

Genesis 1:27 *|* "So God created human beings in his own image." *|*

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Permalink Reply by Jenny on July 24, 2012 at 11:48am

thank you for this, for the encouragement and conviction. i think i especially need to be on guard of what you quoted, "When pride begins to confuse that mission we are no longer a source of blessing and often an
outright obstacle to blessing. If we carry the Christian badge or wear the label with satisfaction
or smugness it is phony, counterfeit. We are to be a people bowed in worship, humility, and service.
We have nothing to boast about except Jesus—not the Jesus we 'have,' but the Jesus who has us." ~http://bearcreekbible.wordpress.com/2012/07/14/isaiah-19-21-hebrews..."

I pray the Lord help you along this path of love as well, 

Jenny

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