Beloved friends, let us love one another;
because love is from God; and everyone
who loves has God as his Father and knows God.
1 John 4:7
Love is a simple, yet complicated virtue. It is a skill that must be learned, and NOT just necessarily what I learn from parents. Unfortunately, most people never learn how to love or how to actually how to relate to other people. We draw into ourselves, enclose ourselves within our houses and routines and never expose ourselves to having to initiate a relationship with someone I don't know. We become content with getting acquainted, but leave it there - so we do not have to become involved.
Wouldn’t you like to become known as a person of extraordinary love? When people speak of you they might say: “He doesn’t care who you are or what you look like” or “She doesn’t care where you’ve been or what you’ve done or where you’re from.” The only way you get skilled at something is to practice. You do it over and over. The first time you do it, it feels awkward, but the more you do it, the better you become. The same is true with love (1 John 4:7).
Let’s practice love even and especially when it is difficult. As Paul told Timothy, "Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress." 1Tim 4:15 Jesus said, "But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust." Matt.5:44,45
For some, love is something I show, only when it is shown to me. For some, love is something that is never shown in public. For some, love is a sign of weakness.For some, love is rigid, disciplinarian, stoic to be sliced with a knife. For some, love is something they show because it is something they were never shown. How do you love?
Let's love as God does!
Jim
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