Over the past few weeks God has really been speaking to me on two major aspects: love and forgiveness. I have done blogs over the last few years about both topics. However, I am constantly amazed at how God continues to use two words to speak volumes in various ways. It is almost as those these words would appear simple, but they are very complex in various ways. Here is what God has been laying on my heart about both words.
Both words are:
1. Daily aspects of life. [Everyday we have the opportunity to love each other and forgive each other. There may be times that we do not think we daily forgive, but we do. We may have to forgive someone who has cut us of while driving, who has hurt us in the past as we daily face the trails, or we have to forgive ourselves. We love those who are close to us, support us, work with us, etc.]
2. Action oriented. [This is a tough concept to comprehend or adjust to. I struggle with this on a daily basis. Loving someone who makes it fun or easy to love is nice. However, God calls us to love EVERYONE. Even when we have been hurt, repeatedly, we need to love through God. I will say this, loving someone through Christ Jesus helps us learn to forgive them. But this I mean, if we love like Jesus did, we learn to forgive like He did. He is the great example.] ("But I tell you who hear me; Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who cruse you, pray for those who mistreat you." Luke 6:27-28)
3. Empowering. [As a Christian, it is my duty to honor God and live a life for Him. If I am demonstrating how to love and forgive someone, I believe this is empowering for others. If I can somehow mustard up some strength, moreso faith, to do God's will, this may empower other's to do the same.] (He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." Matthew 17:20-21)
4. Character Assassins. [If we, you, I, call ourselves Christians and we do not love or forgive...what are we standing for? There is a song I really enjoy by For King and Country that says, "Let my love love like You and what Your made of, How you lived, How you died, Love is sacrafice". How beautifully written. We do not want to shy away from or belittle Jesus' life: His message, His saving grace by not loving or forgiving. We do not want to lose our character.]
There are many other ways to say and apply love and forgiveness. Remember, we are called to love all and forgive all. I will say that from my experience, loving someone can be from afar and may mean by/through prayer. Forgiving someone does not mean we approve of someone's behavior. Instead it means we choose to live a life and have a heart like Christ. Loving others and forgiving other's frees us from pain and heartache. I leave you with this quote...
"Dare to love and to be a real friend. The love you give and receive is a reality that will lead you closer and closer to God as well as to those whom God has give you to love." Henri J. M. Nouwen
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