Just Merely Words
1 Corinthians 13:1 (TPT) If I were to speak with eloquence in earth’s many languages, and in the heavenly tongues of angels, yet I didn’t express myself with love, my words would be reduced to the hollow sound of nothing more than a clanging cymbal.
Showing love to someone has much more to do with action than words. Our words will be proven void if we do not act upon what we say or what we believe. We must rise up and do better as Christians, we have to raise the standard on showing genuine love to people. Meeting the needs of those in the community through acts of service, homecooked meals when sick, helping out with kids when needed, raking the yard of our elderly neighbor, the list is really endless. We have to step out of our bubble and act!
Galatians 6:2-3 (NLT) Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important.
When we refuse to serve others there is a selfish/prideful attitude we exhibit. If you think about anytime you did not want to do something, what was the reason? Likely, it's because it would inconvenience YOU. We all have times when we say, no, I'd rather not. But let's begin asking the harder questions: Why not, really? Well, because "I" don't want to, "I" have other things to do. Are the "things" we're doing really above what another needs? Or even something as simple as where to go for dinner, let someone else pick for once, and be happy they got to choose. Love is sacrifice, it's putting the needs of others before your own.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NLT) Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
Love is denying yourself and doing more for others. One of the sweetest memories I have of my oldest son is an act of love he displayed in school. There was a special event going on in the gym and they were selling Krispy Kreme donuts and juices. The students were asked to bring $1 to purchase the items and there was 1 student in his class that did not bring a dollar. All other students brought their money for their treat. So Z decided it was better for him to bless the student that did not have the money - all while knowing he would not be able to enjoy the treat that day. That just blesses my soul! Something as little as $1 made this other kid's whole day and to him it was worth the sacrifice. There are so many simple ways to show God's love to people, will you be the one to step up and display His love so great?!
