How to Get a Life - Part 4
Well, we just finished the series on how to get a life. The subtitle for it was; A Life Well Lived. So I wonder how you would respond to that. Thus far, would you say that you've lived your life well? One that honors God and loves others? Some will say that the love for God is there, but that you have a hard time loving others. Are other people easy to love and love all the time? Of course not! I'm thankful that God doesn't love us the same way we love other people. But in order to love others, we have to fall more in love with God. Otherwise, loving people is difficult or next to impossible. Without the love of God in us, we can not truly love another person. Whether it be a friend, a family member, husband, wife, children, or just a stranger on the street. We can't love them without God's love in us.
Let me leave you with what the Bible says on the subject, from the perspective of John.
Let me leave you with what the Bible says on the subject, from the perspective of John.
We love each other because He loved us first
If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a Christian brother or sister, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see? And he has given us this command: Those who love God must also love their Christian brothers and sisters.
1 John 4:19-21
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has become a child of God. And everyone who loves the Father loves his children, too. We know we love God’s children if we love God and obey his commandments. Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome. 1 John 5:1-3
Thus far I would say that I haven't done a good enough job of loving others with a true Christian love. Sure, I can get along with those who are my "friends" but, when it comes down to those I only see here and there, or those who don't like me that much (and visa versa) It's really easy to just jump up and judge them, rather than treating them with the same kindness I display towards myself and "loved ones".
My main problem is within myself. I'm coming to the realization that a life lived for God is worthless if it's not the life God wants you to live. In other words, God would rather us follow His commandments and will for our life than try to serve Him according to our own standard.
As far as love goes, loving other people is easy. I do hold certain people with disdain, but not because of what they've done to me. I could care less about what specific people do to me. The hard part then is looking in the best interests of those around you. That's my problem: I respect those who respect themselves, but I don't help them in the way that really matters, leading them to Jesus. I do so indirectly, but there have been countless times when I could've invited people at school to church and stuff, but haven't. That's probably what true love is.
Oldmike is right on target with his last comment. It echoes, too, what Parker said. Specifically, we show the greatest love for our friends, neighbors, and acquaintances when we take the time and make the effort to invite them, guide them, and bring them to salvation in Jesus Christ.
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Roofing for HIM