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As I sit and look out my sliding
glass doors and I think how do I love God? Oh it is easy to say I
love God, but is it easy to do? You cannot explain it; you may have
a warm feeling, a burning sensation in your stomach or a feeling of
numbness. Then again you may not feel anything; somehow you just
know you love God.
You look out at the trees, the flowers, the sky, the brightness of the day, the stars at night, the wind blowing and swirling the tree branches and you know that God is there, in all of it. Just knowing gives you a sense of love of God, His love for you, and your love for God. I wonder which is more important. Is it just loving God or showing God that we love Him? In the world, we cannot know love for us until others perform and show their love. Love to me is the sense of knowing that others show a concern, a desire to see the other happy and a desire to help, to reach out and say "I care." acknowledging that the other is there, and that they are important. I believe we are the vessels of God's love when we reach out to someone.It may seem self-centered, but one of the ways I have been able to know how God loves, is in the way others have reached out to me in my times of loss and sorrow. When a loved one left, I was surrounded by Gods love in those He gave a heart to comfort me. They let me know that I did matter. In my loneliness others have assured me that I am loved and that I am important. When I think of how I return that love, I was so into my own grieve that I was not capable. Yet, within me there was someone very capable and love just flowed out in return. That was when I knew that He had allowed me to use His love to give in return. And, that just makes me love Him more. God gives us hugs. It can be just a phone call from someone you haven't heard from for a while, a card in the mail letting you know you are thought of, or as simple as a neighbor saying "Good Morning." Love is perfected when we allow God's perfect love to flow through us. So, if I love God, I will be obedient to Him and allow him to reach out to others in kindness, understanding, love and mercy through me. When we forgive others their sins, we not only allow God's love to flow, but we open the door for God to show His love for us. If we are merciless, unkind, full of bitterness and anger and unforgiving we are not allowing God to work through us. We are therefore being disobedient to the Holy Spirit. In our disobedience we are not showing God that we love Him.
To share and praise of God's mercy, kindness, and love; that He
has given us in times of great distress, will also show that we are
willing to be instruments of praise. Through this, others will know
our love for God and His love for them. They will then come to know
of His glory and be able to give Him honor and their love.
May your unfailing love rest upon us O Lord, even as we put our hope in you. Psalm 33:22 |
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Spiritual Links: Crosswalk Elijah List |