Preemptive Strike part 1
There's a book series that I love, and in that book series the protagonist has rules. One of his rules is, "Get your retaliation in first." And in his case, its usually about physical violence towards those that mean him harm. In the case of this Jesus Rant, I'm picking up on the idea of every situation being an opportunity to love somebody. And my point is, you don't have to wait for... well... anything. Because while I think that breaking the cycle--not responding with an eye for an eye and showing someone a more excellent way--is incredibly powerful, I think there's a lot to be said for random acts of kindness. Because love as an idea is pretty good. But charity, love in action, that's a whole different ballgame. That's where the rubber meets the road. That's where you put your money where your mouth is. So, again, I'm not saying there's anything wrong with turning the other cheek. If you find yourself in a situation where someone isn't necessarily treating you the way you ought to be treated, you should absolutely love them anyway. That's an opportunity. And those that are the hardest to love are those that need love the most. Because they're hard to love. So they probably aren't getting much of it from anyone. I think we should love the hell out of people like that. But, again, that's a little bit reactionary. And I think we should be more like thermostats than thermometers. We shouldn't just TAKE the temperature, we should SET the temperature. Let me quote my verse for today: "Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets" (Matthew 7:12 NLT). The Golden Rule, right? The essence of the law and the prophets. The one thing you should know about the Law of Moses if you don't know anything else. Well I want to focus on the first word in the verse. "Do." Charity. Love in action. Walking in faith can only happen when you're, you know, walking. Rest is not inactivity. Rest is Holy Spirit directed activity. Not trying to get anything. But simply giving what you've got. Because that's why the Holy Spirit directs you to do; He directs you to love. By leading and guiding you into the truth that you ARE loved. And when you know that you're loved, that's when you CAN love. We love, because God first loved us. We receive it and release it. And watch this: When I say we ought to launch a preemptive strike of love on any and all of the unsuspecting people we come into contact with... its really only possible because that's what Jesus did on the cross. We aren't doing anything He didn't do first. He drew us all into Himself, and planted Himself in us all. He gave us everything we would ever need when He gave us Himself. He didn't just give His life FOR us, He gave His life TO us. He didn't just die for us, He lives IN us. The love that we experience when we give it away, is the love that Jesus (God in the flesh, love in a body) first loved US with! So, as always, it flows from within. We can... because He did. The Lamb was slain from the foundation of the world. Before we even knew we needed it (LOVE) we had it!