Selfless Love
"Words are twisted in meaning and torn from context. They have become mere tools for ego building. It is not surprising that we have to 'swear' to tell the truth. And what about LOVE? Our world is filled with its words: Popular songs, greeting cards, media counselors, and romantic novels shower us with notions and dreams of idyllic relationships and feelings. Real love, however is scarce--selfless giving, sharing, and even dying. We yearn to love and be loved, but we see few living examples of real love."
self·less/ˈselfləs/
How do we love selflessly?
The world has drilled into our heads, live for yourself, not anyone else. And we have begun to believe it. We put ourselves in front of everybody else. We take pride in how "good we are compared to the world" when, in reality, we follow the world's steps like zombies. Pride is the root of selfish love.
WAIT. Isn't this where Christians are supposed to be different? Aren't Christians supposed to love with selfless love? What has happened to our hearts? "Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for 'God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.'" 1 Peter 5:2, 5
Yes, this is where we're supposed to be different. Pride destroys people. It is the downfall of Christians, and decides people's eternal fate. Servanthood, the opposite of pride, is humility: thinking of others rather than yourself. Since 1st grade sunday school, we have been drilled with this verse, taught to memorize it, and never ever forget it. But we do!
Just think for about 1 second about how much we think about ourselves in one day or even one hour. We are constantly concerned with what the world will think, when it DOESN'T MATTER. We get so caught up in how we act, or our reputation, or our perfect american lifestyles, when we should be glowing with the selfless love of Christ, because that is the ONLY reason that we are even living: to SHINE his light, even in the darkest places.
When was the last time Christians cared about other people's problems like they were their own? We have no excuse. The bible does not say "except if they're white, or latino, or black. Except if they support Romney, or Obama. Except if they don't treat you like you want to be treated." Man is without excuse. Our call is to LOVE the world with selfless love, and its time for Christians to GIVE UP their pride, and their jealousy, let God break down the walls of our defiled hearts, and love. To give up caring about what others think. We can't just continue to say, 'Oh that good Christian will do that, I don't need to do anything.' Because you do. Part of being a Christian is living out the living, breathing, word of God.
God's first command, when asked by one of the teachers of the law, in Matthew 22, is Love the Lord your God with everything you have. The second is Love your neighbor as yourself.
Here's my challenge to you. Find someone you don't want to love. Be concerned more with their needs and wishes than your own. Its never easy, its not always fun, but reaping the benefits from the Lord is always worth it, and who knows? Through your selfless loving, we might have another family member in Christ. Simply love them with selfless, Jesus love.
self·less/ˈselfləs/
| Adjective: |
|
How do we love selflessly?
The world has drilled into our heads, live for yourself, not anyone else. And we have begun to believe it. We put ourselves in front of everybody else. We take pride in how "good we are compared to the world" when, in reality, we follow the world's steps like zombies. Pride is the root of selfish love.
WAIT. Isn't this where Christians are supposed to be different? Aren't Christians supposed to love with selfless love? What has happened to our hearts? "Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for 'God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.'" 1 Peter 5:2, 5
Yes, this is where we're supposed to be different. Pride destroys people. It is the downfall of Christians, and decides people's eternal fate. Servanthood, the opposite of pride, is humility: thinking of others rather than yourself. Since 1st grade sunday school, we have been drilled with this verse, taught to memorize it, and never ever forget it. But we do!
Just think for about 1 second about how much we think about ourselves in one day or even one hour. We are constantly concerned with what the world will think, when it DOESN'T MATTER. We get so caught up in how we act, or our reputation, or our perfect american lifestyles, when we should be glowing with the selfless love of Christ, because that is the ONLY reason that we are even living: to SHINE his light, even in the darkest places.
When was the last time Christians cared about other people's problems like they were their own? We have no excuse. The bible does not say "except if they're white, or latino, or black. Except if they support Romney, or Obama. Except if they don't treat you like you want to be treated." Man is without excuse. Our call is to LOVE the world with selfless love, and its time for Christians to GIVE UP their pride, and their jealousy, let God break down the walls of our defiled hearts, and love. To give up caring about what others think. We can't just continue to say, 'Oh that good Christian will do that, I don't need to do anything.' Because you do. Part of being a Christian is living out the living, breathing, word of God.
God's first command, when asked by one of the teachers of the law, in Matthew 22, is Love the Lord your God with everything you have. The second is Love your neighbor as yourself.
Here's my challenge to you. Find someone you don't want to love. Be concerned more with their needs and wishes than your own. Its never easy, its not always fun, but reaping the benefits from the Lord is always worth it, and who knows? Through your selfless loving, we might have another family member in Christ. Simply love them with selfless, Jesus love.
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