"And Jesus replied- love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind." -Matthew 22:37
The preacher at my church has a thing where every new year, he picks a word to focus on for the next 365 days. The point of it, I am assuming, is to grow as a faithful disciple of Christ and, in turn, to grow as a person. This year is my first year picking one word to focus on. The word I chose this year is, you guessed it, love.
One song came to my head when beginning to write this. Nat King Cole with the classic song "L-O-V-E"; "L is for the way you look at me, O is for the only one I see, V is very very extraordinary, now E is even more than any one that you adore. . ."
Now, I bet you pictured some awesome guy or a beautiful girl while reading that lyric. But think for a second, you know who it all fits better? If it were talking about Jesus instead. How perfect is that? L is for the way He looks at you, O is for Him being the only one you see, V is, well, very very VERY extraordinary, and E is Him being even more than anyone/anything that you adore.
Truly loving Jesus seems to be a hard thing to do these days. If you are anything like me, you struggle to find the time of day to just sit and spend time with our great and perfect Father. Some nights, I finally get to bed and realize I didn't love Jesus very well that day. Thankfully, He is forgiving. He loves us so much and just wants to spend time with us. He greatly appreciates when you look up and refer to Him when situations arise throughout your roller coaster of a day. So how can we love Him better?
Well, for starters-
Don't forget to love others. Love is the gift that is freely given to you from Him and the gift you are called to give to everyone you encounter. “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love." (John 15:9 NIV). Then Jesus goes on to say... "My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends." (John 15:12-13 NIV). Loving others helps give a small glimpse of what Jesus's love for me is like.
Some days, for me, love doesn't come easy. I'll be tired from school and driving to the shelter and really just be feeling like I want to crawl in bed with a hot cup of tea. But- the moment I walk into the shelter and see the little faces of Jesus my heart instantly gets warm and I genuinely radiate joy and gain a sense of peace. Jesus loving me, and in turn helping me learn to love others, is the best thing to have ever happened to me. I've grown to know how to love, and although I am not perfect at loving, I do know perfect love. Thanks be to God.
His love ran red (thank you Chris Tomlin) for you on the cross and it still is very much present in your daily life; look around- see and be aware of all of those blessings of yours. He loves you immensely. He saved your life then and there when He died for you. Loving others the way that Jesus loves you is such a gift that you have surely received. I am talking selfless, unconditional, generous, reliable love. The kind that a person can feel from your heart by your words and actions.
What an amazing thing. I just really LOVE love. It's probably my favorite word in the English language. I can't get enough of it. Not only does it comfort me, it creates a better atmosphere for myself every. single. day. My days are filled with hectic schedules, lots driving from point A to point B, on-the-go meal replacement shakes, and trying to find the time to be still with my favorite- God. The only thing that truly makes me slow down and enjoy the moment is remembering to love. I can't show my friends or family good love when I am worried about where I am going next or checking my agenda. Love keeps me in the present and stops me from living in the future so much.
So, I encourage you, love one another. Love Jesus, because He can give you some great tips on how to do love others. Listen to Him, be still with Him and love Him with all of your heart.
Much much MUCH love,
Ash
