Manifested part 4
God manifested His love for us by giving us His only begotten Son. Jesus manifested His love for us by dying for us--and as us--on the cross. By giving His life for us and to us. Love is giving. That's how it was manifested to US, and that's how we manifest it to EACH OTHER. Jesus said there is no greater love that a man can have than to lay down his life for his friends. He said the New Commandment (for the New Man) is to love one another as He has loved us. He loves us (again) by laying His life down for us. By giving everything He had and everything He was so that we can HAVE everything He has and so that we can BE everything He is! He has manifested Himself--His love--to us, and in us, and through us, and as us! He gave us His life. But nobody can live Jesus's life except Jesus. So He didn't just give it to us and then wash His hands of it. He didn't just give it to us and then say, "Good luck with that." No. He gave it to us... and He lives it in us! It's His life. We simply experience and enjoy it by LETTING Him live it in us, and through us, and as us. You've heard stuff like, "Jesus take the wheel." Or, "Here am I, Lord, use me." Well, in order to LET Him take the wheel, in order to LET Him use us... we simply have to let what's inside of us come out. We simply have to let the love that's inside come out. By loving people. Whatsoever we do unto the least of them we do unto the King, right? How we treat people is how we treat God. Which is why is blows me away and bums me out that people will be cruel to people "in God's name." "God told me not to help you because He (I) doesn't agree with what you're doing." No sir. God told you to love your enemies. To pray for those that despitefully use you. And, listen, I always talk about not putting yourself, or keeping yourself, in a bad position. I don't think God wants you to get used and abused. But there's a difference between staying away from people that are no good for you... and refusing to help people in need. But there's also a difference between helping people and enabling people. We have to find that balance. That sweet spot. We have to be willing to help, but not to the point of hurting (ourselves or others). Sometimes when you think you're helping... you're really not. Espeically if you have to force your help onto someone. I've found that, as proud as people usually are... as much as they think asking for help is weakness and not wisdom... when you really need help you'll seek it out. When you hit rock bottom there's nowhere to go but up. And that's what God wants for us. He wants us to ascend. Upward and onward. Upward and God-ward! His love manifests in our lives when WE manifest it. When we use the gift we've been given. When we receive and release His love. You have to have both parts. Because you can't give what you don't have, and you can only give what you do have... but at the same time love is giving. You can give without loving, but you can't love without giving. If you want to experience love... love somebody. Give them what you've got. Give them what you need. That's a life worth living. Not living for yourself, but living for the people you love! Manifesting love in YOUR life by manifesting love in the lives of others!