1 John 4:7-8 "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
John 13:34-35 "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
1 Peter 4:8 "Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins."
Colossians 3:12-15 "Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful."
It's pretty obvious that we're supposed to love one another, right? *expectant Dora face while waiting for answer* Right! Great job you guys. Awesome conclusion ;).
So, I don't know about you, but I kinda find it hard to love people some times... Especially the people closest to me. People hurt us, people abandon us, people return evil even with all the good we try to give them. But, we're still supposed to love them.... Ugh. So hard.
People will always disappoint and wound us, that's just part of being finite human beings. Unfortunately, we are all VERY far away from perfection... As in, if perfection was Washington, D.C., we'd be Mars.... Or the sun... Or whatever is really far away from it.
But! God will never, ever, ever, ever stop loving us. You know that, I know that. But, have you ever really tried to grasp it all? Its mind blowing! He won't stop. Even if we commit the most heinous act anyone could imagine, He'll still love us. Unconditionally.
Yesterday, I was leading worship for our mime group like I do every Monday. The last song was "You Never Let Go" by Matt Redman. I really thought about those words for the first time. It's really true... He won't ever let go. Even when I'm confused/hurt/don't have any idea why what's happening is happening, He's sovereign. He's always got a plan!
When I put that in perspective with people, it helps me to actively love them more. I think, 'If God loves me who's the chief of sinners, surely I can love other people. And if I can't, then He will help me.' Obviously, I'm not very good at loving people yet... I've got a LONG ways to go, a lifetime really. But guess what? Grace. <--It's awesome. And: Unconditional love. <--It's awesome too.
Anyway, that's been the simple sum-up of my rambling thoughts this past day...week...year.
~Rebekah
So, I don't know about you, but I kinda find it hard to love people some times... Especially the people closest to me. People hurt us, people abandon us, people return evil even with all the good we try to give them. But, we're still supposed to love them.... Ugh. So hard.
People will always disappoint and wound us, that's just part of being finite human beings. Unfortunately, we are all VERY far away from perfection... As in, if perfection was Washington, D.C., we'd be Mars.... Or the sun... Or whatever is really far away from it.
But! God will never, ever, ever, ever stop loving us. You know that, I know that. But, have you ever really tried to grasp it all? Its mind blowing! He won't stop. Even if we commit the most heinous act anyone could imagine, He'll still love us. Unconditionally.
Yesterday, I was leading worship for our mime group like I do every Monday. The last song was "You Never Let Go" by Matt Redman. I really thought about those words for the first time. It's really true... He won't ever let go. Even when I'm confused/hurt/don't have any idea why what's happening is happening, He's sovereign. He's always got a plan!
When I put that in perspective with people, it helps me to actively love them more. I think, 'If God loves me who's the chief of sinners, surely I can love other people. And if I can't, then He will help me.' Obviously, I'm not very good at loving people yet... I've got a LONG ways to go, a lifetime really. But guess what? Grace. <--It's awesome. And: Unconditional love. <--It's awesome too.
Anyway, that's been the simple sum-up of my rambling thoughts this past day...week...year.
~Rebekah
