Looking for love in all the wrong places. Love is an action. It is not an emotion or a feeling. It is demonstrated in the way we treat ourselves and those around us, and the things we do to and for others.
1st Corinthians 13:4-8a. "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, 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 persevere. Love never fails."
Love is an action, and God is love.
Tonight I sat down to read a book, "Authentically, unique you" by Joyce Myers. At the end of the second chapter, Myers mentions that in the index at the back of the book, there is a list of scripture verses to remind me of God's love for me. One of the elements that I struggle with in my relationship with God is knowing, believing, and feeling God's love for me. So when I read that Myers had written a cheat sheet for me I quickly grabbed my Bible and headed to the index in search of affirmation of my Savior's love for me. My Bible does have a similar index in it but none of the verses have spoken to me and given me the encouragement that I needed. Meaning that I was not ready for this lesson until now. The beauty of God's timing. The first few references weren't doing anything for me. So I prayed and asked God to show me a verse that would touch me and speak to me the way I needed to hear it. I kept going down the list and landed on Psalm 23. I started reading. Up to this point, I was looking for a verse that said, "Hannah, I love you." - God. (Yes, I know there isn't a verse that directly says that). But that is not how Psalm 23 starts. "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures..." V. 1-2.
This chapter is one of the many chunks of scripture that my mom had my siblings and I memorize as children so it is still familiar to me today. As I am reading I'm thinking "there are no 'I love you' statements in this chapter". Then Holy Spirit reminded me that love is an action and not an emotion. It was a beautiful aha moment. I love Holy Spirit-inspired aha moments. There are "aha moments" and then there are Spirit-led ones. This led me to another familiar passage. 1st Corinthians 13:4-8a. Which describes what love should look like and how to demonstrate it to those around me.
In today's world, we long to hear the words "I love you" from the people we care for. It makes us feel warm and happy to hear those words. But Holy Spirit reminded me today that love is not a feeling but an action. God shows me His love for me when He provides for my needs when He showered me with unexpected blessings and much more. And of course the ultimate act of sending Jesus to die on the cross for my sins. Yes, I have known John 3:16 for most of my life, but like many other honest believers, I have taken that verse for granted many times over the years. This is probably why God created His Word to be living and active so we can relearn all the important lessons He has for us.
As I wrote out/ read 1st Corinthians 13:4-8a it came alive to me all over again in the beautiful way that only God's Word can do. It's the beautiful difference between The Bible and every other book in the world. Yes, books can encourage you and teach you new things, but only The Bible through The Holy Spirit can transform your life.
I was also convicted by how badly I fall short of God's standard for love and that I need to practice some of the characteristics that are listed in this passage. Thankfully God's mercies are new every morning and I can continue to grow in these areas.
Tonight He also reminded me that not only does He love me but that He is a jealous God and desires to spend time with me. He reminded me of how I am jealous of my hubby's time and energy and that He is jealous of my time and energy in a good way. Yes, I am a human leach, something I am working on as well. Anyways, it was yet another beautiful reminder that God loves me and desires to have an intimate relationship with me. A truth I have known for years but needed a reminder of.
"Truly believing that God loves you unconditionally is the foundation for a relationship with Him, with yourself, and with others." Myers, J. 2021 Authentically, uniquely you. Hachette Book Group. Inc.
We need to accept God's love for us before we can do anything else. Because without God's love, we have nothing and will simply sound like a gong or a clanging cymbal. 1st Corinthians 13:1.
I'm only two chapters into this book from Joyce Myers and I'm already sold. God used it to teach me this lesson about His love for me. I am so excited to continue reading it with my journal and Bible by my side. It is currently a library book but I will likely buy it and add it to my library and read it again as the years go by and be able to lend it out to those who need to read it as well.
I pray this blesses and encourages you along your walk with God, and friends.
God Bless
~Hannah
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