I just completed Believing God by Beth Moore.
The last weeks lesson was important for me. Being raised Catholic (its just easier to blame that) I have a hard time loving people who I don't think deserve my love.
That sounds vicious and cold and selfish and self righteous…
…mostly because it is.
I know this about myself and often pray to God to reveal His love for others to me so that I may see them as He sees them.
I have a long ways to go.
In the study Beth makes this point:
We are to literally live love.
Ephesians 5:1-2 (NKJV)
"Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling aroma."
She stresses that God has called us to love even when-
- we don't want to
- we don't feel like it
- we get nothing obvious in return
- they don't deserve it
- they're not worth it
- they don't even know it
- it makes no difference
That's a pretty powerful list for me.
I can think of 5 people off the top of my head that I don't think want my love, will give me absolutely nothing in return, that I don't feel like loving, and that will most likely reject my love anyway.
Yet, I am forgetting one major thing.
I am to love not based on what I perceive I get out of it.
I am called to love because I am loved.
Beth goes on to point out:
What are the first three words of 1 Corinthians 13:8?
"Love never fails…"
"According to the Bible, when we love in Jesus' name that love absolutely cannot fail. Each of us must decide whether we are going to believe God's Word or our eyes and emotions. This is where loving by faith comes in….we've got to know that our every effort to love sacrificially never fails to…
- to get God's priority attention (Mark 12:28-30)
- to ultimately and undoubtedly be rewarded
- to have a profound effect; whether in the other person, in the circumstance, or in us
Love by faith.
Love our enemies by faith.
Love our neighbors by faith.
Love fellow believers by faith.
Love our family members by faith.
Love our spouses by faith.
Love our in-laws by faith.
Love a rebellious teenager by faith.
Love our betrayer by faith.
Love an ill and bitter parent by faith.
Love by faith-not just by feeling."
Well, obviously, I couldn't have said it better if I tried.
So today, I think I will try to love by faith.
I leave you with Jeremy Camp's Walk By Faith… a video I have put on here many times..but whose words always find a way back into my heart.
P.S. Totally off subject…
You've seen that saying that says, "Real men wear pink." Well. Don't get me started on that one. But then I was riding along in the truck with Dear Husband and saw this bumper sticker:
REAL MEN LOVE JESUS
Be still my heart I almost wanted to chase that car down and give that man a hug. Nothing says it better than that.
Real Men Love Jesus.
AMEN!!!
such a great reminder…thanks for posting this.
I didn’t know you were raised Catholic- also haven’t been reading but a few months, so maybe you’ve mentioned it before?
Thanks for asking Kate…
I accepted Jesus as my Savior about 3 years ago…4 years this next March. Up until then, I really did not know who Jesus was. I did however, know all the rules and regulations of the Catholic Church! Not that I even followed them. But oh well. Great question!
God bless!
Amanda
what a great post amanda!! i need to be reminded of this everyday. it is not based on what is deserved. because WE don’t deserve the next breath that we take. thank the Lord he doesn’t love me based on what I deserve
This is a great post! You always share such wonderful messages. I want to do that study sometime.
I am kinda taking a break from doing a study. When I finished the last one I decided I was just going to read the Bible and do my stuff I needed to for my Wed. night class. I have some Women of Faith studies I want to do too and then do another Beth Moore. Anyway, thanks for sharing that.
Great post.
Have not yet done a Beth Moore Bible Syudy, but a lot of bloggers seem to have used her books.
Amanda,
I was so so blessed by this post. I’m actually working on something about forgiveness/loving enemies for Faith Lifts and think that God led me here first for a reason. You expressed the truth so beautifully.
Love, Angela
Great post. I have to work on this one too, especially when it comes to family. Sigh. The holidays bring out all those peeps who I don’t feel DESERVE my love, know what I mean?!?
I’ve been wanting to do this study ever since I read the book but haven’t found a group one to participate in, so….
I’ve been thinking of just buying the workbook and doing it on my own. Thoughts?
And I love that bumper sticker, too!
Yeah, all those will come in handy when your kids are teenagers : )~
Isnt she JUST AMAZING??!! I always say that I am pretty sure she has gods cell phone number! =) haha
I want to get that number! =)
I too did the Believing God bible study by Beth Moore, fell in love with Jeremy Camp’s music and was raised Catholic. Great post!