Purpose Driven Life, Day 16 What Matters Most What matters most? Love does--up (loving God), in (to love ourselves, because if God loves us, we then have the ability to love ourselves) and out (to love others, as if we love ourselves, we will be able to love others). God Is love, so when we love correctly we are most like Him. Unselfish love can be really difficult because we tend to look out for number one, as the saying goes. But the Bible says in Galatians 5:14 that all laws are fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” The Ten Commandments are also really about relationships with God and one another. Table 1 (the first four commandments) discuss showing love to God, while the other six (table two) discuss our relationship with each other. But the greatest commandment in Matthew 22:37-39 ties them all together: Love the Lord you God with all your heart, all your soul and all your mind. And love your neighbor as yourself. Looking at the Commandments this way, they become more than just a set of laws to keep from breaking, but they tell us what our purpose should be: to worship (love, honor and respect) God, and to love, honor and respect fellow human beings. Relationships are required by God to be first in our life, not something we squeeze into our day. On that same line of thinking, our relationship with God isnt meant to be limited to one hour on Sundays, but something we delve into every day. This requires us to make a conscious effort to spend time loving the people in our lives, and really getting to know them--maybe for the first time. This can be tough, because it will require you to drop your guard so they can get to know YOU, too, but it can build a depth of relationship that can strengthen your bond. The same goes with God-we must spend time getting to know Him. And even though God already knows everything about you, TALK TO GOD ABOUT YOURSELF. When you begin to open up about whatever is going on in your life--fear, frustrations, joy, whatever it is--and ask for His help, it demonstrates trust in Gods love for you. Love is meant to last forever, as well. 1 Corinthians 1 speaks to loves everlasting power: If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom (decipher) all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship (make myself look sick, dirty) that I may boast (that others may see my work), but do not have love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But prophecies will cease; tongues will be stilled; knowledge will pass away... And now these three remain (after all else fades): faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. God is specific in that we are to call special attention to loving those in Gods family (Galatians 6:10 -- Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. 1 Peter 2:17--Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.) The reason for that is God wants his family known for their love for one another above any doctrine belief or anything else. As Jesus said in John 13:35, Your strong love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples. Unfortunately, this kind of love requires us to spend time with annoying, broken, irritating people. (Here it helps to remember that youre just as annoying, irritating and broken as they are:) The best way to show your love for others is to give them the most important thing you have--some of your time. You can always make more money, or buy more stuff, but time once spent, can never be recovered. THIS is why your time is so valuable, because its the truest definition of love. Accomplishments will be surpassed, money will be spent and lost, and possessions will someday be dust, but TRUE love leaves a legacy that will never be forgotten. Lord, thank You for Your love that gives us the model to follow. Thank You for loving us, and showing us how to love others. And thank You for helping us to meet the forgotten third piece of the greatest commandment-helping us to love ourselves! Help us to make our relationships the priority they need and deserve to be, Lord. In Jesus Name, Amen. Higher than the mountains that I face Stronger than the power of the grave Constant through the trial and the change One thing remains One thing remains Your love never fails it never gives up it never runs out on me
Posted on: Thu, 07 Nov 2013 08:00:26 +0000
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