Puddle Jumper part 5
We are a very conditional society. We like to draw lines in the sand. Or build walls. Members Only clubs. And I think, in reality, all of that comes from the place of wanting safety. Wanting to protect ourselves. To surround ourselves with like-minded people in the hope that there is strength in numbers. So, really, it comes from a place of fear. It comes froma place of thinking we need something. Thinking we don't have something. It comes from a place of lack. "If I can get people to agree with me then I won't be all alone." And, when that doesn't work, we flip it. "You can't be with me because you don't agree with me." Because it might feel like having nothing is better than having the wrong thing. Which, in large part, I agree with. Having the wrong thing is the worst. But having the right thing... well... now we're talking. Look at 1 John 4:18, "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love." Maturity. Knowing that we have no lack because our God has no lack. Knowing that we have already been given everything we need. Knowing that we don't need to fear. Giving what we've got by knowing what we've got. What is inside you WILL come out. It has to. It's too big not to. What you know and believe is inside comes out. That's how important faith is--what you believe, be it the report of the Lord or the lie of the world, is what manifests as your reality. There is no fear in love. Saying, "Don't cross oceans for someone who wouldn't jump a puddle for you" is a very fearful attitude. You're afraid that loving them will... what? Not get you what you want? Love is never about getting. Ever. Because love is giving. If you're worried about what you're trying to get... love isn't involved in any way, shape, or form. And, yes, I know that people use the idea of "love" to try to get what they want all the time. Control and manipulation. Trying to get, get, get. Here's the deal: if you're loving people conditionally... you're not truly loving them. Not perfectly loving them. Because love isn't about what someone does, be it to you, or for you, or what. Love is about who YOU are. And who your heavenly Father is. Love is receiving and releasing the gift of God (which is His abundant, everlasting, eternal, Resurrection Life of love). Love is letting God love the hell out of you and then loving Him back by loving all the people you come into contact with. It doesn't matter if they've "earned" it or not. They deserve it simply by being human. We all deserve love. That's why we were created--to be loved and to love. To be known and to know. God first loved us so that we could love Him back by loving people. Love is fearless. Because love is unconditional. It doesn't matter what someone does, or doesn't do. What matters is what YOU do. Giving what YOU have inside. Letting that love that's inside come out. No matter what. To no matter who. For the simple reason that it's in there. For the simple reason that you have what they need. You have love. So jump that puddle. Cross that ocean. Go the extra mile. Turn the other cheek. Give what you've got and love people!