Heartily part 4
It's all about the why. Why do you do what you do? Are you doing it because you're trying to get something? (From God OR from men?) Are you doing what you do because you're trying to stay somewhere? (Either IN God's good graces, or OUT of His dog house?) What's your motivation? What are you trying to accomplish? Where does your motivation come from? Well... according to Philippians 2:13, "...it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." In other words, it comes from the heart. That's where love comes from, right? And that's the best reason we have to do anything. To do EVERYTHING. Every breath we take and every move we make. "For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he..." (Proverbs 23:7). What's in your heart comes out. It has to. Because it's too big to keep in there. God is love... and it is God which worketh in us. LOVE which worketh in us. That's where the will--the motivation--and the power to do--actually putting it in action--comes from. If faith without works is dead that means "love" without "action" (which is charity) doesn't accomplish much. Our key verse for this Rant series starts with the words, "And whatsoever ye do..." (Colossians 3:23). It's not just about theories, and ideas, and debates, and words. In the beginning the Word was with God... then He became FLESH and dwelt among us. In the same way, whenever the Word--which is Jesus, which is love--that is within YOU becomes flesh, God dwells among US! What's inside comes out. When you know and believe that it's in there. When you receive it and release it. When you receive it BY releasing it. Because you can't give what you don't have. And you can only give what you do have. So if you "step out in faith" and love somebody--not trying to get something... not FOR God, but as TO God--that means that, on some level, you believe you are loved. If you give it away, that means you believe you have it. It all comes down to flipping the script. Not trying to get anything from anyone, because you know that your heavenly Father loves you and has given all things into your hands, and sharing what you've got. Not being self-centered, but being Christ-centered. Which means being people-centered. Because whatever you do to the least of them (us) you do unto Him. So whatever you do--and it really doesn't matter what you do. Sometimes we think we have to be big, giant, world changers and history makers, when in reality sometimes the smallest thing (like a hug, or an ear that's willing to listen) is the biggest thing. You might not change "the" whole world but you can surely change SOMEONE'S whole world--whatever you do... do it WITH love, and do it BECAUSE of love. Do it AS TO the One who loves you. It's really easy to be nice to people who love you. So just realize that even when people don't act like they love you... that's simply because they don't know that YOU love THEM. Make the first move. And don't worry about how that move is received. The point is not whether or not someone accepts your love. The point is that whatsoever you do... do it heartily. Do it because it's in your heart to do it. Let what's inside come out. Be who YOU are no matter what. Do YOUR best, and forget the rest. Love unconditionally with every breath you take and every move you make, and let whatever else worry about itself!