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Called to Love
[su_quote cite=”Mark 12:31″]You shall love your neighbor as yourself.[/su_quote]
God is love. And we, His children? They will know us by our love.
Sometimes I’ve struggled to love. I’ve struggled to empathize. I’ve struggled to listen, be kind, and be patient. When we fall short, when we fail to love the way He does, the answer is simple: repent. Turn to Jesus, and ask Him to fill you with His Holy Spirit. For the Bible says the fruit of the Spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, and more. He knows us, He is for us, and He is with us!
And one practical tip on this note: just begin praying for those whom you find it difficult to love. My experience is that God will meet us and changes our hearts even as we pray for others to be blessed!
Showing Love
[su_quote cite=”John 13:35″]By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.[/su_quote]
Maybe our appreciation and love for those around us has grown, but I’ve found that sometimes there is a problem in the communication of that love.
There are lots of ways to show love, the ultimate demonstration was Jesus by coming and taking on human form, walking this earth, and then taking our sins upon Himself and dying on the cross. And certainly we are called to love sacrificially and through acts of service.
But in the midst of that, here are two simple practices that I’ve found helpful in the college ministry setting to show love for those around me. And they’re really simple, but sometimes I overlook them.
- Smile
- Say Something
Smile
My worship pastor used to frequently ask, “Are you happy?” I’d reply, “Yeah.” Pastor, “Then tell your face!”
I knew exactly what he was saying. I am a drummer, and sometimes in the focus of trying to keep the tempo steady and remembering the arrangements, I was conveying something really simple but significant: I’m happy I get to serve here, I love Jesus, and I love all of you!
When it’s time for our weekly gathering, I tend to be focused. I have stuff on my mind. I’ve prepped a message, and I’m trying to keep track of an illustration. Or maybe last minute someone couldn’t help with rides so I’m somewhat frantically arranging for some students to be picked up. Also, I’m an introvert, so group settings are a little tiring to boot. In the busyness (and occasionally stress) my face forgets that I’m truly happy to be serving here, I love Jesus, and I’m so glad students and young adults are coming to worship Jesus together! I really am. And then I tell my face : )
They are to know us by our love, but if we don’t show our love, how will they know us?
Say Something
I’m pretty good at smiling. A weaker area for me is sharing words of encouragement and appreciation.
I have people who are serving every week. I don’t want to ever take them for granted, and I really want to make sure they know I love them and appreciate them. But how will they know unless I say something?
Usually when I encounter someone on campus, at church, or at our weekly gatherings, I’m really glad. But how often do I fail to say so? It can be simple, but if it’s genuine, it’s profound. (If it’s not genuine, check back to the beginning of this post.)
- I’m glad you’re here.
- Thank you so much for helping.
- What you’re doing is impacting people for Jesus.
- I love seeing you.
- You’re doing a great job with this.
So, love. And here are a couple simple ways to show it: smile and say something.
Photo: Happy lane by Brett Davies.
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