I sat in my car bawling at the red light. I had just ended a difficult text conversation with someone I love dearly. We both had hard things to say. At the end of the conversation, she text me to let me know that she loves me. Love was intertwined throughout our entire conversation, but it was seeing those words that both made me cry and brought me a profound sense of hope.
Love wins. That's a popular slogan these days. But, does it really? At the end of the day, does love truly win? In a world filled with red cups, bathroom dilemmas, a disastrous political culture, and every day life, are we loving? Does love win?
My friend and I needed to have that conversation today. We both needed to say what was on our hearts. We both needed to hear what the other had to say. We spoke of our concerns, struggles, and hurts through a tiny little screen and typed letters. Emotions and intentions were misconstrued. Face-to-face conversations are rare these days. Instant messaging, email, and texting are the norm. Within that, we get lost. And so does love.
The conversation I had this morning left me in tears for two reasons. One, it broke me. I saw something that broke my heart and the way I explained it seemed hurtful. Second, our texts ended with, "I love you." This. This right here gave me hope. Even though we didn't leave the conversation completely healed, nor did we agree on everything, we still loved. Isn't that what it's all about?
We are so quick to type, speak, or throw our Bible at someone in the name of love. "I love you so much I had to tell you." Or, "I love you so much I need you to live the way I do because that's the only right way." Or even still, "I love my God so much that I absolutely have to tell you how wrong you are or how badly you are sinning." I don't think that's love.
Does love speak truth? Absolutely. Does love talk about hard things? Yes. Does love come with boundaries? You better believe it. But love doesn't have to agree or judge. Love can just be; just be there for that friend, the outcast, the one who looks and lives and believes completely different than you do. Love steps across a barrier that our society has created to walk alongside someone on the other side of the political, or dare I say, religious aisle. Love let's God be the potter.
If you are not a Christian and you are turned off because of those believers who seem so hate-filled, I am sorry. Most of us don't roll that way. Loving the way Jesus loved is scary and abnormal. We don't get a handbook for how to do this love thing the moment we believe. We go in our humanness with a Manual that's often difficult to decipher. Many of us don't know what to make of it, let alone know how to live it. We get it wrong most of the time but I promise many of us work hard to love you right. These aren't excuses for poor behavior. We are all broken sinful souls trying to work this faith thing out. Don't let one deter you from seeking who Jesus really is: love.
For believers who feel it is in our duty to call people out. I get it. I really do. The Scripture seems contradictory at times. If we don't choose a side, we are going to hell. I get it. Well, I don't get it, but I can understand. Let me reassure that your salvation is solidified the moment you proclaim Jesus as your Savior. There is nothing you can do to earn it or lose it even if you drink from a red cup. (Acts 4:12; Romans 6:23, Romans 8:35&37) You are a sinner. That doesn't change when you get saved. You are eternally forgiven, but you will still sin. His blood covers yesterday, today, AND tomorrow. There's a reason for that. Look to Jesus as your Guide. His life is a love story. Love like He did and you won't get it wrong.
Jesus tells us that others will truly know we belong to Him by the way we love. I read an awesome quote the other day. It said, "The smarter I get, the quieter I become." I am working on this. I want to become quieter with my words and louder with my love.
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35
Love & Blessings,
Meg
Love wins. That's a popular slogan these days. But, does it really? At the end of the day, does love truly win? In a world filled with red cups, bathroom dilemmas, a disastrous political culture, and every day life, are we loving? Does love win?
My friend and I needed to have that conversation today. We both needed to say what was on our hearts. We both needed to hear what the other had to say. We spoke of our concerns, struggles, and hurts through a tiny little screen and typed letters. Emotions and intentions were misconstrued. Face-to-face conversations are rare these days. Instant messaging, email, and texting are the norm. Within that, we get lost. And so does love.
The conversation I had this morning left me in tears for two reasons. One, it broke me. I saw something that broke my heart and the way I explained it seemed hurtful. Second, our texts ended with, "I love you." This. This right here gave me hope. Even though we didn't leave the conversation completely healed, nor did we agree on everything, we still loved. Isn't that what it's all about?
We are so quick to type, speak, or throw our Bible at someone in the name of love. "I love you so much I had to tell you." Or, "I love you so much I need you to live the way I do because that's the only right way." Or even still, "I love my God so much that I absolutely have to tell you how wrong you are or how badly you are sinning." I don't think that's love.
Does love speak truth? Absolutely. Does love talk about hard things? Yes. Does love come with boundaries? You better believe it. But love doesn't have to agree or judge. Love can just be; just be there for that friend, the outcast, the one who looks and lives and believes completely different than you do. Love steps across a barrier that our society has created to walk alongside someone on the other side of the political, or dare I say, religious aisle. Love let's God be the potter.
If you are not a Christian and you are turned off because of those believers who seem so hate-filled, I am sorry. Most of us don't roll that way. Loving the way Jesus loved is scary and abnormal. We don't get a handbook for how to do this love thing the moment we believe. We go in our humanness with a Manual that's often difficult to decipher. Many of us don't know what to make of it, let alone know how to live it. We get it wrong most of the time but I promise many of us work hard to love you right. These aren't excuses for poor behavior. We are all broken sinful souls trying to work this faith thing out. Don't let one deter you from seeking who Jesus really is: love.
For believers who feel it is in our duty to call people out. I get it. I really do. The Scripture seems contradictory at times. If we don't choose a side, we are going to hell. I get it. Well, I don't get it, but I can understand. Let me reassure that your salvation is solidified the moment you proclaim Jesus as your Savior. There is nothing you can do to earn it or lose it even if you drink from a red cup. (Acts 4:12; Romans 6:23, Romans 8:35&37) You are a sinner. That doesn't change when you get saved. You are eternally forgiven, but you will still sin. His blood covers yesterday, today, AND tomorrow. There's a reason for that. Look to Jesus as your Guide. His life is a love story. Love like He did and you won't get it wrong.
Jesus tells us that others will truly know we belong to Him by the way we love. I read an awesome quote the other day. It said, "The smarter I get, the quieter I become." I am working on this. I want to become quieter with my words and louder with my love.
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35
Love & Blessings,
Meg
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