Friday, October 18, 2013

Prove Your Love By Showing It

My Utmost For His Highest
 
‘Our Lord told us how our love for Him is to exhibit itself when He asked, “Do you love Me?” (John 21:17). And then He said, “Feed My sheep.” In effect, He said, “Identify yourself with My interests in other people,” not, “Identify Me with your interests in other people.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 shows us the characteristics of this love— it is actually the love of God expressing itself. […]  Faithfulness to Jesus Christ is the supernatural work of redemption that has been performed in me by the Holy Spirit— “the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit . . .” (Romans 5:5). And it is that love in me that effectively works through me and comes in contact with everyone I meet.  […] The key to the missionary’s devotion is that he is attached to nothing and to no one except our Lord Himself. […] The duty of a faithful missionary is to concentrate on keeping his soul completely and continually open to the nature of the Lord Jesus Christ. The men and women our Lord sends out on His endeavors are ordinary human people, but people who are controlled by their devotion to Him, which has been brought about through the work of the Holy Spirit.’ CHAMBERS
 
How do you respond to the people you meet?  Is it based upon some predisposition?  Is it some assumption about people of a particular culture, ethnic group, economic status, faith, or geographic origin ( I myself am a Yankee who has repented in some people’s eyes).  Or do you see them the way Jesus would see them .. someone who desperately needs a relationship with their creator .. someone who is without hope except in Jesus … someone Jesus came to die for.  Do you communicate judgment .. superiority .. distance … rejection .. in your voice, your words, your attitude when you meet people?  Or do you reflect Jesus and the love He has for the world?  We cannot justify poor treatment of others because of our own fears, doubts and weaknesses … If we don’t show the love of Jesus to others .. who will … no one that’s who.  We love because God first loved us.  (1 John 4:19)
 
John 21:17 [And] Jesus said “Do you love Me {Put your name in here} … Feed My Sheep …”  In other words Jesus was saying .. “Show Me by loving others”
 
Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)

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