Love God Love Others

What do your actions reflect? I ask this question because as I was spending time in prayer this morning this very question exploded within me and really forced me to take a long hard look at myself. A better question would be; what affect either directly or indirectly are my actions having towards others? Do your actions cause a good and encouraging impact to others or do they cause others to question your motives? Do your actions help or hinder? Most importantly; do your actions bring honor to God?

This could be something as simple as how you speak. How you treat others. Even how you look at others. You see Jesus said that they (an unbelieving world) will know we are his disciples by the love we show one another (John 13:35). Are we always showing love to others? Do our actions say that "I'd rather show love than be right?" Sometimes we are in fact 100% correct in our assessment of other believers but we have to choose to live out John 13:35. In 1 Corinthians 13:2 the Apostle Paul goes as far to say that we are nothing without it [love]. By you choosing to always walk in love you are reflecting the image of Christ to everyone around you. Now that's a powerful testimony!

There are two sides to this story. How I choose to walk with the Lord and how others choose to walk. Other believers may not have the same convictions you do; so does that mean it's your job to point that out to them and everyone else? I don't think so. People will be people and you can't control how they choose to live their lives. What you can control is how you live your own life and how things affect you. Don't let the short-comings of others bring you down. In other words don't let the enemy use them to steal your joy. Just do what God has put in your heart to do and stop worrying about everyone else's problems. God is big enough to work those out. Maybe you see these issues in people for a reason. Have you prayed for that person?

Our jobs are quite simple once you take away all the holier-than-thou church mumbo jumbo. Love God and love others, pretty much that's it (see Matthew 22:36-40)! Do you see how Jesus said to first love God then love others? There's a reason! Only when we first love God with all our heart, soul and mind are we able to love others. It's through God's love that we can see others as He sees them, through eyes of love and compassion. We are all broken vessels and have issues so why do we act like we don't? I'll be the first to raise my hand and say it, "Yup, I've got issues!" But I also know that God is bigger than my issues and will help me navigate through them as long as I keep my eyes on Him and not what everyone else is doing. It is only when we learn to love God first that we can truly begin to love others. 

Take Care & God Bless,

-E