the Bible has a lot to say about love. in the concordance of the NIV Bible there are more than 335 references to love. i have been called to love all people, no matter what their situation, no matter who they are, no matter what they believe, no matter how hard it is. as christians, we have all been called to love these people. there are so many conditions that can keep people from loving others. it's ridiculous. some conditions seem worse than others, but they really aren't. in my opinion, those "conditions" are actually sins. and God has told his followers that no sin is greater than another and that we need to love the sick, poor, hungry, wretched, undesirable, sinners. love your neighbor as yourself. a common phrase for christians. sometimes a phrase that i stop listening to or reading because it is talked about almost too much, like a really good song you hear for the first time on the radio that you end up hating by the end of the week because you hear it too much. love your neighbor as yourself. love the sinners in you community. love the sinners in your church. love the sinners in your family. love the sinners in your country. love the sinners you work with. everyone is a sinner and deserves as much love as the person next to them. every outcast deserves as much love as the pastor of your church. unconditional love. love your neighbor as yourself. love those who have hurt you in the past. love the people that continue to hurt you as you read this. love is for everyone to give and receive, no matter what has happened or what will happen. jesus loved everyone he came in contact with. jesus loved the cripples, the diseased, the annoying, the smart, the nice, the happy, and the sad. there was no one who went unloved. why do humans look down on others? better yet, why do we as christians look down on others? why do we stop loving those who need it the most? why is it so hard to love the people who we have loved before, but have made a mistake and gone the wrong way? love your neighbor as yourself, no matter what the circumstances may be.
unconditional love.
i really needed that because i've been trying to love people who have hurt me in so many ways for a long time. i'm not saying that i am able to do all of those things i just talked about or answer all of the questions i just asked, but we all, as christians (or even non-christians) need to think about love and how every person on earth deserves love and compassion, even if they don't seem worth the time or energy.
i know i need help to love the people i "hate." i know i can't just simply love them all of a sudden. but i am willing to try my best.
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7 comments:
wow. this is profound!
-sarah[judy]
I am so proud of you. You are expressing way more than opinion in your writing Lauree. There is a lot of wisdom, depth and spiritual insight shown in your words. I see and hear the Spirit at work in your heart and mind. That you actually sat and counted the verses, and read most of them it seems, exemplifies a significant spiritual growth spurt.
God has cracked into places in your heart that I know you have struggled with. If you will remain
"soft clay" in his hands, there will be no shortage of blessings and lessons learned in your life and to others through your life.
I will always be here for you, you know that...but the reality is, as you have already learned in life, people let other people down...Jesus NEVER will. He is the one who began HIS good work in your life and HE is the ONE who is able to complete that work in YOU.
I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always, as long as I'm living, your mommy I'll be.
i only have 1 thing to say.
Lauree, I love you! ;-)
"love yourself" is one that we often forget.
i think it has a lot to do with "humble confidence" and "self-worth as the son or daughter of the Most High GOD".
good words.
thanks for this. perhaps loving others is throwing straws in their eyes, eh? :) But seriously, this is good stuff and something i needed to hear and think about and act on.
Thanks for the reminder... looking through Samuel Johnson's Dictionary, he defines "love" in many ways, but the one that strikes me the most is "To regard with reverent unwillingness to offend." How often am I reluctant to show love to a complete stranger, or to someone who has wronged me, or to someone that I've wronged in the past... I appreciate this reminder; this calling we have to love one another.
lauree! i found you! (well you leaving me a comment led me to finding you, still...!) it is good to read your stuff. good thoughts, and like you said a good way to keep up with people you don't see very often.
and the sandwich shop idea of yours sounds great. i am very sad and not sure what to do with myself now that they are all grown up! :( i'm wandering around aimlessly. hope your summer is going well. you sound busy!
cindy
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