Simply... Love

[SillySeth]

Recently, I have been doing some thinking about my spiritual walk and my life. In my last post, I stressed how Christianity is about a relationship with Christ and not essentially religion. I have found this true, in the sense of what I meant. But there’s been something else that has been creeping itself out in my thoughts.Pastor Brian did a whole series on Incarnational Christianity and I also have several podcasts of other pastors who preached on or about the same things. I believe that that is the whole point of being a Christian. Yes, going to heaven and being saved is a lot of it, but that is not simply what Christianity is. NO! Christianity is so much more.The aspect of the Christian life that has been eating away at my mind lately has been a four-letter word. And no, it is not a cuss word. The word is love. In my life, I have been very selfish. I have taken incidents that have occurred in my life and I have dwelt, absorbed and focused on them. From this, I have placed blame, and hate; but also regret, shame and dissatisfaction. In doing this, I stayed still. I did not move. I did not move into something positive and I did not move into something negative. I simply stood without moving.While sitting or standing, if you prefer, I missed out on life. Yes, it is true. I have missed out on a lot of things during the last few years. I simply became a being that went to school, came home, did homework and went to sleep. Scientifically, I was living. But otherwise, I was dead. I was SIMPLY living. In John, chapter 10 verse 10, it says, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” Other bible translations often say “and have it abundantly.” The Christian life is NOT to simply live! No! Christ came so that we can live… but live to the fullness of life.I made a life-effecting mistake when I stopped moving. I lost out on what life is really about. I lost connections; friendships; memories; good times, bad times. Now, I realize this and am working on fixing as much of my life as I can; but a lot of it is already shot to shambles. Im all of this, I am learning one important thing. L-O-V-ELove is awesome. Love breaks down walls. Love brings people together. What I missed in my life, was love. I was so saturated in selfishness and self-pity, that I lost the will and power to love. I surrendered myself to myself and lost on what really matters. I am now working to piece back together the pieces of my life and I am rediscovering love. In your life, love can do amazing things. God wants to use the love you can give to change lives. God loves you so much, all he wants is for you to do the same with others.This is a personal opinion, but I think it is valid. You can go to church everyday for 5 years, attend prayer meeting after prayer meeting, hold bible studies in your home, and even serve as a leader in a youth group; but a person who shows genuine love for others with God as their motivation will do more for the Kingdom of God than the person who does all those things. Love is what really matters. Love is what makes the difference!Again, God is moving in a new way today. He wants to take your gifts, talents and abilities and use them for His Kingdom. God wants you, and He wants who you are. But He also wants to show other people the greatness of Himself and the Love he has for them, through you! You are like a keyhole into the Kingdom of God, and love is the key that can open the door to bringing others into real, life-changing a relationship with Jesus Christ. But without the key, others can't even begin to open the door.If you’re anything like me, you will find that showing love actually takes a little work, and a little rethinking. Instead of thinking, ME ME ME, and you think Her Him Them you will find a completely new way of living life. That way of life is the way Christ lived, and it is the way You were made to live.So… as you walk out your faith and walk and talk the Christian life, don’t forget love. Because love is the most important thing, at least that is what I’ve come to find in my life with others. Just simply talking to other people and showing concerna nd interest in them, can be the beginning to something God has been planning. Don't miss out by staying still, but love and move forward into what God has planned for your life.So, will you show L-O-V-E to someone this week?