Maximum Effort part 4
Going the extra mile for people is pretty much the definition of "rest." Because rest is NOT inactivity. Rest is Holy Spirit directed activity. And what would the Holy Spirit--the Spirit of Love--direct us to do other than love? Those who are led of the Spirit are the Son(s) of God. Because they receive the love of the Father and release it to the world. And do you know what Jesus was talking about when He said, "And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain" (Matthew 5:41)? He was talking about turning the other cheek. He said, "If you are sued in court and your shirt is taken from you, give your coat, too" (Matthew 5:40, NLT). Don't resist. Don't fight back. You've heard about an eye for eye, but there's a more excellent way. And that more excellent way is love. It's giving everything you've got and everything you are so that someone else can have what they need. And THAT is the definition of love. Meeting people where they're at and giving them what they need. Not expecting, or forcing, them to jump through hoops. Not putting conditions on something that is unconditional. Giving maximum effort no matter what. To no matter who. That's a tall order though, unless you understand how unconditionally and perfectly you are loved by the Father. Because you can't give what you don't have. And you can only give what you do have. So unless you've received love you can't release love. Makes sense, right? Unless you know and believe that you are connected to the unlimited source of love you'll be afraid. Afraid to lose what you've got, and afraid that what you give won't be received the way you think it should. But perfect love casts out fear. It doesn't matter how someone else receives it. It doesn't matter what happens next. We were created to be loved, and to love one another. And as long as you do that... you're good. Love is the safest place you can be. There are so many Old Testament verses--in the book of Psalms specifically--where God is referred to as a refuge. A strong tower in which we can rest safely. And since God is love that means LOVE is the strong tower. LOVE is our refuge. It is where we can get away from all the noise and distractions of the world and focus on what really matters. And it's where we live! We live in Him just as He lives in us. We live in LOVE just as love lives in us! So our maximum effort of loving one another doesn't come from trying and trying and trying. It comes from filling ourselves to overflowing with what we've been filled with. It comes from not reacting to the outside--turning the other cheek--and giving from the inside. It comes from knowing and believing that we are loved. Jesus gave maximum effort on the cross. And He said we'd do all the things He did and greater things! He laid His life down. He gave His life for us and to us. And now we can do that for each other. We can give maximum effort. We can go the extra mile. We can love.