Bring Light and Life into the Dark and Empty: Love Well

Many things get in our way. Time. Responsibilities. Fear. Pre-conceived ideas. Selfishness.

Yet, God commands us to love others as we love ourselves (Luke 10:27-28). Not just some people, but everyone, even (perhaps especially) our enemies (Matthew 5:44). 

True Christian love injects hope into helplessness and peace into anxiety, for both the giver and the recipient.

Good stuff!

But if you’re like me, your mind gets in the way of loving others, and you need examples to follow. 

Ambassadors of Love

Demonstrating the love of Christ doesn't have to be elaborate, but it does have to be sincere. Click To Tweet

I gave birth to, and am blessed to be raising, one amazing example of the love God is talking about. Her name is Rachel.

Rachel loves unconditionally and unfiltered because she’s not loving from her mind but from her heart as is discussed in the Pulpit Commentary on 1 Peter 1:22. Peter contends Christian love must be from the heart, true and pure. 

 By obedience to the truth, having purified yourselves for sincere love of the brothers, love one another earnestly from a pure heart (1 Peter 1:22). 

In loving from the heart, Rachel is not confined to pre-supposed ideas of who should be shown love.

She never notices someone’s body odor, their tattered clothes, or dirty faces.

She doesn’t check to see if they are popular, smart, or deserving.

She never stops to question whether sharing her love is politically correct, socially acceptable (okay, this is a bit of a problem in school with 16-year-old boys), or deserved. 

Rachel loves naturally and completely. She shares the Lord’s love willingly and without predetermined criteria. And she does it without ever uttering those three little words we like to say but falter in living out, “I love you.”

Instead, she pours out love with spontaneous hugs, contagious laughter, and persistent “hi’s”.

Rachel offers love to the likely as well as the unlikely, such as the unkempt man I tried to ignore as we sidled by in the restaurant or the sloppily dressed woman in the doctor’s waiting room who just needed a hug. 

Over the years, I’ve been blessed to learn from other Ambassadors of Love as well, like Ben (my friends’ grandson, shown in the picture above with Rachel), James, who fellowships at our church occasionally, and many at Special Olympics events.

Through these wonderful individuals, God’s love shines bright, and not only for those who meet the cultural standard for being loved. These ambassadors love with abandon.

Their radiant love and joy put the rest of us to shame (1 Corinthians 1:27). 

Sharing love doesn’t require hugging everyone we see, like Rachel does. But it does require demonstrating that we care. To everyone. Without judgment. 

Jesus’s love doesn’t have parameters, so why does ours?

Love Well

So practically, how does unconditional love present itself? 

• With eye contact and a sincere smile (maybe even a hug or hand shake).
• With an offer to pay for a meal, open a door, or help carry a parcel.
• Through asking how the person is doing … and honestly wanting an answer! 
• Through any actions that demonstrate the Lord’s love for the person. 

Demonstrating the love of Christ daily doesn’t have to be elaborate or drawn out, but it does have to be sincere. 

Pray for a transformed heart of love. Be open to the Holy Spirit’s prompting.

Watch the actions of those Ambassadors of Love, like Rachel, Ben, and James, who the Lord placed in this world for, what I believe, is this special purpose.

Let them teach you what it means to love others as yourself…

…and how to do it from the heart. 

May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. (1 Thessalonians 3:12). 

Reflections: Do you find your mind getting in the way of loving well? Have you had the blessing of knowing a true Ambassador of Love? 

Although it seems Ann is no longer offering her Multitude Mondays linkup (although her Joy Dare continues), I will continue to post my 1000-gift list on Monday (okay, today it’s Tuesday) because it seems a great day for it and because … well … I just can’t quit. (Just between you and me, it helps me in the savor department.)

Since beginning nearly 3 years ago, I’ve counted over 3,000 gifts!! What a blessing! So here we go: #3136–3156, read the entire list by clicking here.

By His grace ≈

Julie