James 2:8
Yes indeed, it is good when you truly
obey our Lord’s command, “You must love and help your neighbors just as
much as you love and take care of yourself.”
The
Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by
permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois
60188. All rights reserved.
The boys were playing with
some new toys they chose as rewards for good behavior. Timothy had
quickly passed over a bag of plastic spiders, ants and beetles because
the kids really do not like bugs. Instead, he selected a plastic
chameleon. So Nathan readily chose the bugs! Then things got
interesting, as Timothy immediately had “buyer’s remorse” and wanted to
play with the bugs. The more he wanted to play with them, the more
Nathan did NOT want to share! So we had to have a little “lesson” in
sharing and how to think as much (or more) of the other guy as you care
for yourself! There were a few tears, but in the end, the brothers
figured out how to play together and get along…and love won!
Forty-one
years ago today, Greg and I promised to love each other “till death do
us part.” We promised a lot of things that we probably didn’t fully
grasp at ages 17 and 20…certainly not like we understand them today.
I’m pretty sure that we didn’t fully realize that the love it would take
to sustain more than four decades of marriage would surpass our young
definitions of this word. We couldn’t possibly envision the patience
our love would require as we built a business together…the strength we
would need to share in order to lift each other through illnesses and
injuries…the hope and faith that would be required as we consoled each
other in times of grief and loss. We readily signed on to be the
biggest cheerleader for each other…but I don’t think we had a clue that
there would be days that we might have to cheer even when we really
didn’t feel like doing so.
To say that a happy marriage does
not require hard work would be a lie. But I can tell you one thing for
sure…it’s a whole lot easier when God is at the center. When each party
makes a concerted effort to love God with his/her whole heart…and then
to love one’s spouse with as much tender care as God gives to us…things
fall into place with amazing precision. “Bumps in the road” aren’t as
bumpy…there is nothing that cannot be prayed over and worked through.
The art of “give and take” becomes second nature…and we both find
ourselves putting the needs and desires of the other ahead of our own.
These
same principles apply to any relationship. You have to think as much
of the other guy as you do yourself, or there will be trouble and
conflict. You have to consider his/her feelings at every turn. I’m
talking about much more than leaving the last piece of pie or deciding
who gets to pick the restaurant or movie. It’s more than letting
someone have the last word - or sharing your “toys” and possessions.
God
wants us to be so steeped our love for Him AND our love for each other
that it becomes the rhythm of our lives. He wants us to be so
comfortable in sharing and living unselfishly that we discover what it
truly means to be His disciple. He wants us to understand how Jesus
loves us…and to emulate this in our daily living. I am grateful and
blessed to be loved by God…and to be able to share His love with
others…especially my Greg. And I thank Him for teaching me to love
others without judgment and conditions. I am a work in progress, but I
am certainly making the effort to do this!
Whoever God places in
your path, my prayer is that you would love each of them with the love
of Christ. You may not always get to share their “bugs and spiders,” but
you will impart something far more valuable - unconditional love and
acceptance. And God will use your efforts to do amazing things! Are you
ready to see for yourself?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label loving unconditionally. Show all posts
Showing posts with label loving unconditionally. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for February 14, 2013
Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Unless you’ve been in a coma, you know that today is Valentine’s Day… a day when we are supposed to shower others with love in the form of cards than range from “mushy and gooey” to downright silly, flowers, balloons, candy – especially chocolate – and other gifts. More than $4 billion will be spent on jewelry alone, according to an article at www.forbes.com. Overall, this will be an $18.6 billion dollar event! People will propose marriage – and others will actually tie the knot.
Tomorrow, baskets and bins in retail outlets throughout the world will be filled with discounted leftovers. The price of fresh roses and other flowers will go down - and let’s be honest…people will not be as tender and loving toward one another. It’s as if this one day of the year wields some sort of magical power over most of us. If someone purchases one of these items today to share with a loved one, is the love any less genuine? Can your February 14th gestures of love convey how you feel about others for the rest of the year?
I do not mean to belittle Valentine’s Day. I love sending Valentines to my little nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. I enjoy making heart-shaped treats for them and imagining their little faces when they get a surprise in the mail or on their doorstep. Although we long ago agreed to stop exchanging gifts and cards, it gives me great joy to leave love notes for my husband, or to make him a special holiday breakfast… or to share a celebratory lunch or dinner. But sending gifts and cards is relatively easy. In The Purpose Driven Life, Pastor Rick Warren reminds us that …”If you only serve when it’s convenient, you’re not a real servant.” It would follow that if you only love on Valentine’s Day, you very well may be only pretending to love others.
The challenge for all of us is to look around and figure out who – and how – we can love 365 days a year. Where can we show others the love of Jesus with genuine words and acts of affection and honor? How can we step out of our comfort zone in order to be obedient disciples of Christ? Is the love of Jesus Christ (and grace, mercy and forgiveness that His love encompasses) so profound in our own lives that we are ready and willing to drop everything to share it with someone else? What is so important in our own lives that we don’t have time to love another in the name of Jesus… and why do we think this requires gifts, cards, candy, or jewelry?
Valentine’s Day is the perfect day to think about love. This is a great time to examine our hearts and find any corners where our expressions of love might be less than authentic. Ask God to show you where you love others conveniently or give lip service instead of genuine care and concern. Let Him show you how to love others every day of the year… to extend to them the grace, mercy, forgiveness and compassion that Jesus showers us with continually. Be a real servant and a true disciple. Make every day Valentine’s Day in Jesus’ name. Allow Jesus to use you for His glory… and get ready to be loved like mad in the bargain!
©2013 Debbie Robus
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