August 23, 2006
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I had a dream recently where I saw two friends returning from a mission trip. One of them had a big grin and was so happy... she exclaimed, "I was so blessed. I love the children!!!" The other friend had a disappointed look on his face and told me as he looked away, "I just couldn't love them all." Immediately an urgency stirred in my heart and I exclaimed, "God's love is not complete in you!" And I woke up.
1John 4:19 - We love because he first loved us.
John 13:34-35 - A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.
1John 3:16 - This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.
Growing up, nearly all of us learned how to love from our parents. They clothed us, fed us, cared for us, educated us... many children when they are very young will exclaim, "I love mom!" or "I love dad!" Why? Because that person serves them continually. We love them because they first loved us.
I asked my high school Bible study who they would be willing to die for. All of them said their parents. Some said brothers or sisters. They were honest and admitted they probably wouldn't be willing to die for their friends. I understood. I was the same at their age. My love was imperfect. Why? Because I had been taught love by imperfect people... despite my parents being so wonderful, they aren't perfect. It was not until I came to know God that I knew true love. And as I've grown in it I've tasted that God is so good that I want to empty myself of anything not of Him. Consider my heart was 10% humble/serving/good, 90% selfishness/sin/junk. I could only love 10%... his love was not complete in me, so I could not love all. And so over the years I've continually been repenting, letting go of sin, seeking Him, and growing in His love. He commands us to do this! And through this God took me from loving just my family, to loving friends, to loving fellowship members, to loving even the really hard to love. While I am still learning how to love everyone around me relationally, because I've been able to take in so much of God's love I can now say not only am I willing to die for Him (I want to be a martyr for Him!), I am also willing to die for one of His children (that means anyone). His love is so powerful. It is transforming me!
And so I pray the same for these kids. I'm praying they will learn love... that I can plant as many seeds of love as possible and that in time the Spirit will be poured out and cause the seeds to shoot out and grow into trees of righteousness. I see glimpses. Last Saturday I let the 1st and 2nd graders watch a movie in my apartment. I served them snacks and played a little with them. Unexpectedly, two of the kids went to my fridge and made this...
"We love you JM - Soo Yun, Yoo Dal Woo"
We love because he first loved us. Use us God. Take everything we have, make us complete in You, and use us to reveal Your love to the world!
Todd Fields - The Beauty of Your Soul
Comments (4)
that's awesome JM, remember this as you go about your day; Luke 6:45 - The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.
you are a good man JM.
that was a great entry. such honesty. some of the most touching words are so simple and honest. and i've learned that children usually are the source of that. keep planting, jm
thanks for sharing JM...
also, this morning at 330am was a really good follow up to what we talked about online last night...thanks for the verses ands words of encouragement...God was definitely communicating to me
awww i could actually read the letters on the fridge even though they made it up. wow... ur so blessed with these kids. hold on to them. =) and keep sharing Christ's love.
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