Disciple part 2
Being a disciple of Christ is being a student of love. Learning how to love as we learn how we are loved. And, really, as simply as I can put it is 1 John 4:18-19, "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love him, because he first loved us." I know there's a lot there. Let's unwrap some of it. Starting with there not being any fear in love. I think that's important. Because I think most of us ARE afraid to love. Or, worse yet, afraid OF love. Because we've been in situations where we thought someone loved us, and it turned out to be something else. Or we loved someone, but they didn't feel the same way. Didn't receive what we were releasing. But that's the thing: Expectations are the best and easiest way to set yourself up for disappointment. Because very rarely do people react exactly the way we want them to. People are gonna do what they're gonna do. People are gonna be who they are--who they believe they are--no matter what you say or do. I know we've probably all been in a situation where we have the answer... and we give the answer... and it falls on deaf ears. Sometimes the only way to learn is through experience. And that's hard to watch. Because we could save the people in our lives a lot of hardship and heartache if they would just listen to us. So we build walls. We don't want to get hurt again, or watch someone else get hurt again. We become afraid of love, and we become afraid to love. But what that really means is that we are not yet made perfect in love. Being perfect, or mature, in love is understanding that it doesn't matter if people pick up what we're laying down or not. Our part in this play is to simply give what we've got. Love God--by loving each other--because He first loved us. Receive and release HIS love. Pick up what HE'S laying down. And what He laid down, 2,000 years ago on the cross, is His life. We pick that up and we experience His life by letting Him live it in us, and through us, and as us. We pick that up and then we have something to give. Something that everybody needs. Whether they know it or not. And guess what: If you love someone, but they don't receive it, that's ok. You've planted a seed. Shown them a more excellent way. And whether or not they're ready, willing, and able to accept it right now... they'll remember it. Someone else will come by and water that seed. And then God, of course, will get the increase. The harvest. The fruit. Which is the fruit of the Spirit. Which is love. When love is planted, love grows. But we can't be afraid to give what we've got. We can't be afraid to let what's inside come out. We can't be afraid to guard our hearts by keeping them open. By filling ourselves to overflowing with what God has already filled us with. Loving people because we know that we are loved. Because we know that we are love! And its ok if we're not expert lovers right out of the gate. Like anything, practice makes perfect. As long as we're loving people, our heart is in the right place. And as long as our heart is in the right place we can't fail. Because love never fails!