Open and Honest part 4
I think the very worst part about being vulnerable is admitting that you want something--or, worse, need something. Because as soon as you want--or, worse, need--something from someone they have power over you. The power to give it, or to hold it back. And that's terrifying. Especially in the context of what we've been talking about; that basic human want (need!) to be loved. And I know that's why we do what we do. I'm absolutely convinced that people do what they do for one of two reasons. 1. They are trying to get love because they don't know and believe that they have it. 2. They are sharing the love that they have because they DO know and believe that they have it. And, friends, that's why it's so vitally important to be open and honest. Open to the ultimate truth of the universe. John 3:35, "The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand." Knowing that love... knowing that WE are the Father's beloved Son in whom He is well pleased... that's what allows us to truly live. That's what allows us to love. We love, because He first loved us. It flows from the source. Into us. Filling us to overflowing so that it comes out of us naturally. It's more blessed to give than to receive, but you have to receive so that you have something to give. That's what it means to be open. Be open to love. Stop disqualifying yourself. Stop thinking you're not worthy of love. Love has nothing to do what actions. Unconditional love (by definition) has no conditions. It's not about what you do. It's about who you are. The Father loves the Son because He's the Father. And because the Son is HIS. It's that simple. And only by seeing ourselves IN the Son (as the Son) can we experience that kind of love. That kind of relationship. And once we get that part of it squared away, everything else is gravy. Once we know who we are--once we know and believe the truth--we can do things for the second reason. The reason of sharing, instead of trying to get, or earn. And that's what love IS. Love is never about getting. Because love IS giving. If you're trying to GET then you're not loving anybody. But if you're sharing what you've got, that means you know and believe that you've got something! So it's all about knowing and believing. Receiving and releasing. Faith, right? Faith works by love. And faith comes from hearing, which comes from the Word of God (which IS love). Walking by faith is walking in love. And you can't walk IN love unless you know that you ARE loved. That you are LOVE. The most holy thing anybody can ever do--in fact, the ONLY holy thing anybody can ever do--is loving others as Jesus loves them. That's the New Commandment. That's our purpose, our calling, and our EPIC (Eternal Purpose In Christ) Destiny. That's the only way to live, because that's what it MEANS to live. I guess my point is that all too often we close ourselves off. We try to protect ourselves because love can be scary. But perfect love casts out fear. Perfect love doesn't expect anything from anybody, because it already has everything it needs. The Father hath given all things into our hands. He did it all so we could get it all and now we have it all. Now we can love because we know we ARE loved!