What We Give
What We Give
In travels recently, people watching was intriguing. Seeing folks interact with each other, those they knew and those they didn’t know, brought my thoughts to my interactions with others.
How do I interact with those around me? Those I know and those I don’t? What is in my heart? Am I bustling along and impatient or do I stop and consider those around me? Am I present or distant? Am I demanding or kind?
I considered if Jesus was the one I was watching; what would I see?
Jesus tells us in John 13:34 that we are to love one another. Listen to His words:
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.”
John 13:34 English Standard Version (ESV)
But, Jesus tells us to love one another as He has loved us.
Jesus’ love was an “all in” love. He gave it all! He didn’t just tell us; He loved us. He showed us what He means with His command for us to love.
Jesus showed how it is that He Loves us. Paul explains what Love means, so we understand the “loved” that we are and what we are to do. Listen to Paul’s description of Love:
“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends…”
I Corinthians 13:4-8a English Standard Version (ESV)
Our goal is patience and kindness rejoicing with the truth. The truth in the situation. The truth in the other person. The truth as God sees both not as we see it. Paul says Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
This means we come alongside those God puts in our paths. We are to help, bring hope to, encourage, and believe in those very people AS God believes in them. Love never ends…
Paul also mentions right after patient and kind not to envy or boast; be arrogant or rude. The reason is simple when we are envious, rude, and arrogant we have zero capacity to love on any level. We are only considering ourselves. In the end, this is a very empty and lonely place to land.
Love isn’t about what we get. It is about what we give.
It’s about who we become as we spend time with Jesus. Learning about Him. Learning how He loves us and all others, not just the ones we determine deserves His and our love.
Whose eyes do we see through? It makes all the difference in the world.
The Granny who was my spiritual mentor taught me this valuable lesson.
I found that when I stop and look at my circumstance or the people around me through God’s eyes, it eliminates the cynical and bitter resentment that growls deep within. I find I have more peace and capacity to love well in my soul. I don’t have just the ability but the deep desire to love others in a way that brings grace and peace.
Seeing who Jesus is and how He loves us and His love for those around us begs the question “how.” How do I love the way God does? What does that look like?
There are times I can determine I love others, but sometimes it’s with a New York edge. I claim it’s because I was born in Brooklyn and we’re just a “tougher group of people.” Great excuse.
So how do we love the way God loves?
What are the attributes to look for in how we endeavor to love the way God loves? In His being patient and kind; not envying or boasting; not being arrogant or rude. How do we follow through in not insisting on our way; not being irritable or resentful; or not rejoicing at wrongdoing but rejoicing with the truth. How do we Love the kind of love that bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things? A Love that never ends. How?
Jesus had His Father send us the Holy Spirit. To dwell in our hearts, remind us of all Jesus taught, how he lived, loved, and who He loved. There are 210 verses regarding the Holy Spirit found in the Old and New Testament of the Bible. It is not possible to encapsulate the entire history of the Holy Spirit in a few short words. But, the Holy Spirit was integral in Jesus’ life and ministry; dwelling in Him, leading Him, strengthening Him, and empowering Him.
The Holy Spirit is needed and available to be an integral part of our lives.
Jesus speaks to His apostles. Those, hiding in the upper room for fear of their lives. Jesus joins His apostles and says to them:
“Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so, I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”
John 20:19-22 English Standard Version (ESV)
He says the same to us. “Receive the Holy Spirit.” We have access to the Holy Spirit because Jesus knew we would need the Holy Spirit just as He did. The Holy Spirit was sent for those who would accept Him into their hearts to be an integral part of their lives that they would be able to live with strength and power; wisdom and understanding. The Holy Spirit would remind us of the things that Jesus taught that were a part of Jesus’ life.
The evidence of the Holy Spirit dwelling in someone is the power to follow Jesus in all areas of our lives. The power to resist the devil and he will flee. The power to decide to love even the unlovable. The Holy Spirit gives us the ability to be patient and kind even on our worst days. Envy and arrogance become less when we invite the Holy Spirit to become more in our lives. We then find that our being rude and boasting become distasteful and ugly to us.
The Holy Spirit becoming integrated into our lives empowers us to see others’ needs in His light and love. Finding there is more joy in giving than receiving; more peace in rejoicing in the truth. This is not to say we see through “rose colored glasses” but when we see in the light of God’s love for each person we can walk alongside them without judgment.
We mirror God’s love to those we meet when we offer a hand of support and faith to those struggling in the midst of a difficult time in their lives. When we bring our experience, strength and hope to others, we will find that God’s love, grace, and mercy become tangible to those we meet.
The Holy Spirit empowers us to be a reflection of our Heavenly Father to those around us. His love showing through us.
“Love never ends…”
I Corinthians 13:8a English Standard Version (ESV)
Today are you willing to invite the Holy Spirit to empower you to Love the way He loves?
