Heartily part 1
I talk about this idea a lot: How we should do things heartily--to the best of our ability, and because they are in our hearts to do them. So for the next few days I want to really dig into this idea. And what it boils down to, for me, is simply following your heart. But this can be tricky because sometimes we think following our heart means trying to get what the heart wants. And, listen, when it comes to decision making... a lot of the time we get really mixed up when we THINK we're following our heart. We look for love in all the wrong places and get twisted up and lost. Here's the deal, "Keep your heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life" (Proverbs 4:23). The heart is vitally important to this life. Out of the heart flows the issues--or issue, singular--of life. And I say singular because the issue of life... is love. What else could it be? The heart is only concerned... with love. What else could it be? And the way we keep (or guard) our heart is not by shutting it down. I think that's the natural first instict once you've been hurt. Shut it down and keep it from happening again. But here's the deal: Life dings us all. We all get hurt in one way or another at one time or another. That's just part and parcel to life. But if we shut down and hide from love... what we're really doing is shutting down and hiding from life. Because love and life aren't just connected, they are the same thing. The way you keep you heart is by keeping it open! Keeping it open to love. Not giving up on love... ever. Because love will never give up on you. Ever. Love never fails... because love endures. And while it might be a long and winding road, it ALWAYS gets us to where we need to go. Psalm 119:105 tells us that, "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." If you have a lamp and a light, you can always see where you're going. And that allows--equips and empowers--you to get where you're going. If you don't know where you're going, it's hard to get there. But if you can see the path clearly, you can stay on that straight and narrow way that leads to life, even in the midst of the twists and turns. Life may throw you a curve, but if you keep your eye on the ball you'll be ok. And remember, every hit doesn't have to be a homerun. Sometimes you just need to get some wood on the ball. Small victories are still victories. Even baby steps forward still count as progress. And that's the key: Moving forward. Life will always try to knock you down, but if Jesus is holding you up (and He is) you'll always be able to keep moving forward. So let your heart be your guide. Do things because of love. Do things with love. Do things in love. Guys, for real, it's all about love. Love is what makes life worth living and love is what makes it possible to live. Because to live IS to love and to love is to live. They aren't just connected, they are the same thing. One more memory verse for today, our key verse for this Rant series: "And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men" (Colossians 3:23). When our focus is on God--loving God BY loving people--that's when things get really simple and really easy. That's when the love God has put inside us can truly come out! That's when we can truly live!