A.Half-hearted / B. Cold-hearted / C. Christ-hearted
Friends, family, co-workers, spouse, children, God – What kind of love do you get from these relationships?
From a boss we would much more enjoy a Christ-hearted leader that a half-hearted or cold-hearted one. Certainly from our spouse, friend, children, and family, Christ-hearted love is our choice. From the very beginning of scripture God plainly, powerfully provided His love (Christ-hearted love) to be the dominant force to permeate His created world. Adam and Eve had it too.
But it seems to be difficult to find these days, with so much division and anger having become too powerful. Somebody has to do something about this. Right? Who will it be? I find that I want, even expect, others to love me well and treat me with respect, accept and encourage me; but the question comes around:
“Friends, family, co-workers, spouse, children, God – What kind of love do you/I give into these relationships?”
Is it important that I give Christ-hearted love into my relationships and to my Father, even when others don’t openly love me or give me a loving response to my overtures of love? You bet it is. The scriptures are clear that in the last days as “sin abounds” that “the love of many will grow cold”. I say that you and I can bathe each day in the love of God revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord and presented to us freely in the indwelling Holy Spirit. We can give the world what they need most, get least, and truly want above all other gifts. They need / we need / you need / I need Christ-hearted love.
So, let’s put the Devil on notice that we will no longer be guilty of giving half-hearted love at work, in family, to friends, to spouse (if you have one), or to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. We will give back the love He has given to us and settle for nothing less than giving the very Best!
Let’s pray the passages below and ask God to do in us what we can’t possibly do alone.
“Father, may these truths from your Word be true in us as we trust you to shine Your love through us into a world that is dark, lonely, and too often hopeless or hoping in the wrong things. Remind us to start where we live, where we work, where we go to school and church, and with those nearest to us and simply love.”
John 13:34-35
34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Matthew 22:37-40
37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
Romans 5:17, 20 are added truths that let us know we have Who it takes to succeed in love.