The Bible tells us that love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonour 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. I know what you are thinking. It’s easier said than done, right?
For me, the greatest example of love is God sending His only son Jesus to die for our sins. Jesus arrived in an era of barbaric and inhumane deaths. I often wondered why He didn’t come at a different time when His punishment might have been less severe. Then it occurred to me the significance of His death- His love, carrying His cross, and being nailed to it, exemplifies what it means to be obedient and carry one’s cross. I digress.
Back to this love thing, this was another challenging post to write because I sometimes struggle with it- sometimes. Also, this coincided with a period when I felt I did not have a lot of love in my heart. So, I couldn’t understand why God will choose to have me write this post knowing that. It didn’t make sense at the time, but here we are.
During this period, I’ve been working on my heart posture, recognising that the heart is associated with emotions like love, kindness, affection, care, and their opposites. According to the Bible, our words and actions mirror the state of our hearts, shaping our thoughts and affecting how we treat both ourselves and others.
My philosophy when relating to people has always been to verify intentions first and then trust later. The problem with this approach is that it puts you on the defensive initially, making you unwilling to be vulnerable with others because you suspect they may have hidden agendas that are unknown to you. It’s exhausting, but my thought process was always “better safe than sorry”.
Imagine my surprise encountering people who trust first and adjust if necessary. That’s a superpower to me because you mean to tell me you would wholeheartedly trust people first in this wicked world, irrespective of past pain and deception? It must be liberating to live with such openness, embracing forgiveness and having the capacity to move on, treating the next person with an absolute clean slate. I aspire to adopt this mindset and I’m working towards becoming part of the “trust first, adjust later” gang.
What actionable steps have I taken towards this goal? Thank you for asking. Since a pure heart is led by love and Jesus is love, it means if I emulate His character, I would love like Him, as stated in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. By studying His life through the Bible, I gain insights into His love, compassion and grace. It provides real-life examples of how He moved, thought and lived. A blueprint on how I should also move, think and live.
God has also taught me the importance of gratitude, thanksgiving, forgiveness, friendship/community and renewing my mind. It has transformed how I love God and how I show up for myself and others.
Love requires intentionality- giving freely without expecting anything in return. This is your cue to prioritise self-care, forgiveness, prayer, acts of kindness and sharing of uplifting words with one another. Love God, be kind to yourself, give yourself grace and extend that same grace and love to others.
Every act of love is an additional brick added to the house you are building in Heaven. So, keep building!
Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ Matthew 22:37- 40 NIV