The Greatest Commandment

If love is free, then why is it so hard to give? If love is so necessary, then why do we struggle to show it?

During our study of Crazy Love, we are being challenged with questions such as these, but not just in the pages of the book. We are experiencing it in our lives. We are being challenged by unkind co-workers, family members that have hurt us in the past, friendships that have created unfair accusations and relationships that have produced disappointments; sometimes, we even struggle with loving ourselves.

For me, I know that a topic is necessary when not only life produces opportunities to practice the topic, but also when the Holy Spirit presses upon the heart of our ministers to expound even further on the topic. God is moving and flowing in our Bible study and He has allowed situations of life to show up in our midst, to challenge us to not just discuss truth, but to practice and live it out!

Yesterday, apart of the sermon that I received in church expounded on the woman with the alabaster box (Luke 7:47). In these verses of scripture, Jesus exclaims that in order to love much, we must understand how tremendously we have been forgiven. "A person who has been forgiven little shows only a little love". In other words, Love reflects forgiveness. If I feel as if I'm not "that bad", or if I dwell on always being a victim... if I feel as if I've done nothing wrong, if I cannot see past my own circumstances and not accept the reality that ALL HAVE SINNED, then it is difficult for me to show compassion and mercy on others. How can I love those who are imperfect if I do not identify myself with imperfection? Jesus explains that this is not possible.

As Believers in Christ, we must understand that all sin requires forgiveness and that forgiveness is the ultimate act of love. Jesus forgave my sin because of His great love for me, I must forgive others because of my great love for Christ. In his book, Francis Chan goes to explain that loving people can be very difficult, because it goes against our human nature, so we must pray that God equips us with Love for others.

In the Gospels, Jesus declares that the greatest commandment is to Love God with all that we have and all that we are, and then to Love others. Why is this the greatest commandment? It's because is the most difficult and most selfless act of obedience. Loving God and loving others is the most powerful act of dying to self. As Children of God, we must extend great love to others because God has extended such great love to us. This goes hand in hand... when I love God, I can love others, When I love others, I am loving God. If this were easy, it wouldn't be the greatest commandment. But thank God we have a helper... the Holy Spirit, who gives us the strength that we need to accomplish all things, for the glory of God, through His son, Christ Jesus!

Go out and love, my sisters!
~Pearls

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

Love is in the air.... ahhhhh!

I know that this "holiday" is super controversial. On one hand, those who have a sweet someone special rejoice over this celebration of love! ...The hearts, the candy, the special dinners and perfume! Who doesn't love to have love poured out over them? But, if you're single, this celebratory day may done your door with feelings of irritations, frustrations, loneliness or distaste. It's a fine line between love and hate, or so they say, but regardless of your marital, dating or single status, you are dearly loved by God! His love is an everlasting love and He cherishes to pour it out on you!

Last Friday, the girls and I were able to celebrate love at our third Fundraiser for our Honduras Mission Trip! We dressed up, danced to wonderful music, took pictures, gave hugs, said our thank you's and just enjoyed each other. Our preparation for this trip has been so very intense and we've even had some bumps in the road, misunderstandings and hurt feelings to over come this past week, as which is customary to happen once in a while in any relationship. But it's the Love of God that surpasses all things and brings forgiveness, which only increases the bond of love.
Sometimes, I do wish Cupid was real. I do wish that we could just fall into a love spell with angry co-workers, rude customers, disrespectful family members or problematic people, in general. But the truth is, when I understand how deeply God loves me, well, then I am able to love others with more empathy and patience. When I am feeling forgotten or when I am wishing to have more attention in the love department, weather it be from my husband, a friend, my parents or my siblings, I try to remember that God's love is deeper than any human relationship I could ever engage myself in. The truth is, God IS LOVE! So if it is love that you are longing for, truly, it is God!

 

This year, my hopes for us all is that we don't get caught up in the "I love or I hate Valentine's Day" dilemma. Instead, let's focus on the pure and perfect love of God, through Jesus! No matter what you've done or how far you've gone, His love is strong enough to carry your through and bring you back to Him! His love is beyond passionate and His intensions towards you are eternal! And because He loves us, we can offer His love back to others in healthy and compassionate ways!

You are loved, so very much!
Happy Valentine's Day!

~Pearls