Whatsoever part 2
Whatsoever you do... do it in love. Do it BECAUSE of love. That's what this Rant series is trying to say. But I want to get into the passage in Colossians chapter 3 that I quoted yesterday. So today let's do Colossians 3:14, "And above all these put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness." And right off the bat that phrase "put on" connected me to Ephesians 6:11, "Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." Now I don't want to get too heavy into the devil tonight. But let's just say he's the accuser of the brethren, right? That voice that tells you you're not good enough. The voice of the world, usually, but sometimes it even seems to come from deep inside. Even though we KNOW (and believe) that what is REALLY inside is the love of God. Which, in a Word (Jesus, love) is what the armor of God is. His love for us, and in us, and through us, is what protects us from the lie that the serpent wants to hiss in our ear. His love is that still, small voice that IS deep inside telling us the ultimate truth of the universe. That God is love and He loves you. That the Father loveth the Son and hath given all things into His hand. That we ARE good enough. That God made us exactly the way He wanted to. God doesn't make mistakes. You are not an accident. You are not incomplete. You are not lacking anything. And when you know and believe that truth... that's when you can stop trying to be someone you're not in order to get something you think you haven't got. That's when you can stop trying to get... and start giving. That's when you can truly lay your life down for your friends. You can give everything you have and everything you are because you KNOW what you have and you KNOW who you are! And when you give someone everything you have and everything you are, without expecting anything in return... that's the bond of perfectness. That's when you truly experience the abundant, everlasting, eternal, Resurrection Life of God. The life of love that is the gift of God. You experience it when you share it. When you give it away. Not when you try to "protect" yourself by closing down and hiding behind walls. But when you have the armor on, so you can go right into the thick of things. You can meet people right where they're at. You can let them be who they are, and love them anyway. You don't have to be afraid. Which, by the way, connects right into my final memory verse for tonight: "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" (1 John 4:18). Here's my question: What are we so afraid of? I think we're afraid of rejection. Of reaching out and having our hand slapped away. And that happens. Truly. But the point of reaching out is not whether or not someone else takes your hand. Its not about getting anything. Not a reaction. Not a thank you. Nothing. That's not the point. The point of reaching out is making what you have available. And, in that way, experiencing what you have. Love IS giving. And it doesn't matter what happens after you give. Give because you've GOT something to give. Give because you see a need. Because its in your heart to do it. Charity is love in action. Seeing a need and meeting it. And that connection, that bond, that's what's perfect!