Today I am posting a repeat – one of the posts I did on The Twelve Days of Christmas. It is a testimony of my own personal journey of finding real love. Tomorrow I will follow with where I am in my love journey now.
1 John 4:7-8 (Amplified Bible)
7Beloved, let us love one another, for love is (springs) from God; and he who loves [his fellowmen] is begotten (born) of God and is coming [progressively] to know and understand God [to perceive and recognize and get a better and clearer knowledge of Him].
8He who does not love has not become acquainted with God [does not and never did know Him], for God is love.
One of the most over used words in the dictionary is love – there are so many things that we attach this emotion to – I love ice cream – I love my dog – I love my job – and in the English language we use that same word to say I love my husband (or wife), I love my children, I love my parents.
It seems like there should be more than one word to express love in English as there is in Greek. A quick check on Wilkepedia will take you through the different meanings of the love words in Greek.
What I want to share with you today is my own journey with love. When I became an adult I did not have a natural ability to love – years of being rejected and disappointed by those I loved caused me to be on guard, to be unable to really trust people’s intentions, and certainly not their heart. I really lived a double standard because I conveyed a desire to sacrificially serve people and to give unselfishly, placing myself in a position of giving, so I would not be dependent on others to give to me – therein making it difficult for me to be disappointed!
How many know that when you live like that and you say you are a Christian – it becomes a prime opportunity for God to make you – DEPENDENT! For years I suffered being dependent on people, places, and things – out of my control (and that is really what it is all about) and being forced to live contrary to my goals and aspirations -
The whole story would take a book to tell – so I’m going to skip to the day when I realized that I was not just singing the song in church:
“Beloved, let us love one another – for love is of God – and everyone that loveth is born of God and knoweth God -
He that Loveth not, knoweth not God, because God is love -
Beloved, let us love one another – 1 John 4: 7 & 8.”
No, I was no longer singing it – something had happened to me – and when I read:
14We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. 1 John 3: 14 KJV
– or to make it plainer –
14 If we love our Christian brothers and sisters, [a] it proves that we have passed from death to life. But a person who has no love is still dead. NLT
I found out that no longer was I afraid to be hurt, afraid to be rejected, afraid that I would not be chosen over someone else – that God really did have something special just for me – and that He really did have enough to go around – I was not in competition for scare resources! The way I learned this was through many painful and challenging situations – but the revelation that I learned it was one of the most marvelous discoveries that I have made in my life (and you all know that I am a student of life)!
GOD IS LOVE! and GOD LIVES IN ME – LOVES ME – LOVES THROUGH ME – and there is nothing I can do about it – it becomes as natural as breathing.
My journey of discovery went even further when I realized one day that I felt sorry for “my enemies’ going through painful circumstances. Rather than rejoicing that they had “got theirs” – I felt compassion and empathy – wow – it was then I really knew I had passed from death unto life – I was saved – FROM MYSELF! Glory!
I believe one of the greatest gifts God has given us – is the capacity to forgive those who have hurt us, wronged us, schemed against us – held us in low esteem. It is also a gift that we cannot pull out of a hat – it is a by-product of a life surrendered to God.
As we strive to find ways to show those we love that we love them this Christmas (or any day) – join with me in asking God to exercise the gift of forgiveness to those who have not loved us – therein is true freedom – therein is life!
God Bless you This Day,
Maria
I loved it. Once you can pray for your enemies, there is a freedom that transcends time. There us a redeemption is forgiveness that can never be found in revenge. Thank God for his love, his form of love is the best revenge. Keep loving God, it brings you through the rough times.
This is the second time within two days I’ve heard the essence of this message. Hmmm. I listen & obey. Thanks!!!