God is teaching me so much about myself and relationships lately, its crazy. The importance of getting into someones life and really learning how to love them unconditionally is quite refreshing actually. Vulnerability is scary, but vital if we really want to get to the heart of God. God wants us to love people. Love them. Them. Their junk, their baggage, their problems, their quirks…call it what you will, but Jesus died for them, and he wants us to do the same. Am I saying die for people? Yes I am. Die to self. Get past yourself and ask God to allow you to see the people he wants you to love the way He sees them. Die to judgment. Take a look at yourself and then see if you still have stones to throw. Die to tradition. So its not trendy or socially cool to befriend those people who have chosen different paths as you have? Who look different? Smell different? Have different lifestyles? Befriend them anyway, in God’s eyes, they are no different than you.
I’m not just talking about the underprivileged or social outcasts in this post. I’m also talking about the people with whom you interact with and socialize with on a daily basis. Have you allowed yourself to get past the *survey questions with them and really begin doing life? Community happens when we do life. Healing happens when we do life. Radical Christian living happens when we do life . Unconditional love happens when we do life. We must love people and love them well, and as I see it, its what God is calling the church to do.
I know God has given me a heart to mentor and love people, and I also know that there are a select few that I want to pour into and really do life with…I am still figuring out who they are, and what I am supposed to do exactly. Don’t get me wrong, we should make an effort to meet people where they are at in order to love them well, but Jesus only had 3-4 in His inner circle, so I know there are different levels of friendship. Don’t worry if you don’t make someones inner circle….its not a contest…just love them and let them love you.
Peace. And yes, Words of Love is a Beatles song…
* Survey questions: questions that are relatively insignificant when trying to really get to know somebody. Although they do serve a purpose on a first date, at a party where you don’t know many people, or when you get put into a group at school, they really don’t allow real knowledge of who a person is to take place. ex; my favorite color is blue, I love reading, I am a writer, I love the ocean, etc…
1 Comment
August 4, 2008 at 2:26 pm
I love this post!