This has been a really profound week for me. I didn’t realize it but Holy Week left me on a high with a deeper appreciation for God. This week brought me back to my reality lol.
First off, my friend is annoying me. I think my period is coming but I also think I need space (which I’ve been taking). It also made me think about how sometimes I see friendship as a 1way place for me to rant). But when they do rant I’m so uninterested. I don’t know, unless it’s something that benefits me I just don’t care or if I don’t bring the topic up. But that’s not real love. Sigh I need to be better. Less selfish. But also thank you Jesus for the revelation. I just need to ask God to help me to be a better friend.
Now, prayer team…Sigh. I think it’s more that a lot of the women’s version of love doesn’t fit or doesn’t meet my biblical standards of love. It’s getting to the point where I dread going to movies. Because a) not sure how it connects truly to prayer and b) we trail off from the topic to whatever is on the hearts in terms of feeling. But I also know I’m in serious danger of judging and I think that’s also something I want to dig deeper. But I think, the thing I have to hold myself accountable on is am I still walking in love despite my feelings?
And then the world. Living in America is so hard. Because our leaders don’t act in love and they use his name in vain for their wicked things. And I’ve been praying for the world, but if I’m honest I’ve lost hope. I don’t’ believe people can change or walk in love. Seeing people use God to justify their hatred. I don’t know ugh I get frustrated because we don’t want to do the hard work of letting the bible be transformed.
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
– 2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV
We are supposed to be new creations! And I know God is not saying oh if you have these biases or phobias then you’re too far gone. But what I know he’s saying is that you can’t stay the same. You have to let Christ transform you. And becasue Christ is love (1 John 4:8), we need to let love transform us.
I feel like two dangerous things are happening with Christians. 1) we minimize the power of love and 2) we don’t let the Holy Spirit move. When we evangelize, it’s not supposed to be of fear (repent or you’re going to hell).
27When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. 28But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” 29And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. 30Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. 34Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God.
So context for this passage. Paul and Silas are in prison. And it’s midnight and they are choosing to rejoice and to sing. An earthquake then occurs opening their cells.
There are two acts of love in this passage: Paul stopping the jailer from killing himself and then after, the jailer washing their wounds while also providing shelter and food. But Paul and Silas evangelized to him. They didn’t say you’re a horrible person and you need Jesus or else you’re going to hell. They showed him love and then spoke the truth (The good news). And how did he respond? He was transformed. And how do we know that? By his actions of love. He took them, washed their wounds, brought them is his house, set food, and rejoiced. All actions of love.
I think another thing was the selflessness of Paul. He could have chosen not to say anything and escaped. But he chose what Jesus would do. To care about others. To love your neighbor as yourself. To pray for your enemy. It doesn’t make sense. It’s seen as weaker. But we don’t worship someone who was king on Earth. We worship someone who choose to make serving a pillar of his identity.
This brings me to my second point: Holy Spirit. is really hard because I think we [the church] have become so focused on needless quabble that we don’t know
15Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. 16But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness
– 2 Timothy 2:15-16I think of topics this week like 2819 church, LGBTQ, Donald Trump. And I think we as a church (across US and the world) don’t know how to live in harmony with each other. But I also think that some of us have a pride issue where we think that a) it has to be our way and I need to be in control and b) It’s my way or no way. But is that love?
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. 17Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.
– Romans 12:14-16 ESV
I’m not saying we need to excuse sin. But I’m saying it’s not our job to change people or transform. We can’t! We are supposed to act in love. To live in harmony with others. And always serving. The Holy Spirit convicts.
And honestly, I don’t know our roles as Christians with calling people out on sins. I think this is where accountability in relationship comes from. But I also don’t know the role of the Church. I think when people talk about sin, a lot of times they are talking about people who don’t know Jesus/aren’t Christians. And they don’t have to follow the rules of Jesus because they haven’t chosen him. And the Holy Spirit can’t work in them. As Paul says
12For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? 13God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.”
– 1 Corinthians 5:12
And I feel like this is where Christians get stuck. They see people who don’t know Christ yet and instead of walking in love with them and letting love be the pull that brings them to Christ, they choose to fearmonger instead? Is that what Jesus did? What if we prayed and still treated them with love? They are not subjugated with the same rules as us. Their lives aren’t freedom, but they’re in bondage. And with prayer they will come to Christ and be free. But until then, they’re not subjugated to our laws.
At times, I feel like (and I’ve probably said this in other posts) people treat Christianity as an exclusive club. They claim they want people in but only if they fit the criteria. And I think this is also why people are frustrated with Christians. God made us all different, of different race and cultures. And he did that intentionally. We all have our backgrounds and our own experiences with sin. Which means we also have our own convictions and our own depths of self-control with things.
I think the dangerous thin is when we try and make our own personal convictions law. Or we say things that aren’t love and try to say they are because it’s a feeling. I’m reminded of when people were calling Beyonce demonic and that anyone who goes to her tour isn’t a Christian. And I can’t help but think is that love? is that kind? is that not rude? (1 Corinthians 13:4-7) The bible never says that love is mean and yet, some of the nastiest and meanest people are Christians in the name of God. We have to be better. If I was a non-Christian and I saw that, I wouldn’t want to be a Christian. Because that’s mean. I think it’s dangerous to even say who is and who isn’t a Christian based off of the songs they put out. Jesus says only I can determine salvation and it really (in my opinion) be as prevalent because our love isn’t something that’s exclusive to non-Christians only.
1If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.
4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
– 1 Corinthians 13:1-7We (Christians) can prophesy, sing for hours, and fast and pray for weeks. But it doesn’t matter if we are not choosing to love everyday. And it’s not just our neighbors. It’s the people that annoy us. That frustrate us. And I’m not saying there’s no boundaries or what not. I’m just saying that being rude or cocky or uncompassionate is not love.
“1. Jesus was kind, even when people didn’t understand Him. The people were perpetually confused about who Jesus was and why He was in their midst. Yet Mark 6:34 records that, when He “saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.” The arrogant challenged Him; He responded with kindness (Luke 10:25–26). The needy drained Him; He responded with kindness (Luke 8:43–48). Roman soldiers and religious zealots killed Him; He responded with kindness (Luke 23:34).
Jesus was prepared to be misunderstood, so He could have patience and kindness with non-Christians as He explained how to have a relationship with God. We need to remember that as His followers we, too, will be misunderstood. Jesus warned us, “If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you” (John 15:18). Even when hated or misunderstood, we should always respond with kindness.”
How should a Christian relate to non-Christian friends? | GotQuestions.org
Now, for our Christian brothers/sisters. And I’m thinking out loud here. But there is a line between holding our brothers/sisters accountable and trying to play God in their lives. I feel like there is kindness in the truth.
15 “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 16But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. 18Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 19Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”
– Matthew 18:15-20 ESV
What stands out to me is Jesus saying to do this if the sin is against you. But what if it’s just observational? I then think it’s prayer but not to get involved directly unless they tell you. Because that’s where judgment comes from but also may not be our role. I think praying is a powerful act of love. We don’t have to always be directly involved. Just as we pray for our leaders without ever meeting them, we can pray for our brothers/sisters. We are not Jesus and we don’t know their convictions. What we can do is for them to listen to the Holy Spirit. And this is something I also need help with because I want to be right. But I might be doing more harm than good. So I’m going to work on praying if I see a brother/sister in sin unless it is against me directly.
This was really helpful. For me. To breakdown love. Before I end in a prayer, I wanted to put down verses to help with our actions to love.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7; Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Colossians 3:8-10;12-15 8But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices 10and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator…12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.
Romans 12:9-21: 9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. 17Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Galatians 5:13-15;22-23 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another…22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
Ephesians 4:25-32; 25Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. 26Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27and give no opportunity to the devil. 28Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. 29Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. 30And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Philippians 2:3-4; Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
1 Thessalonians 5:11-15 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. 12We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 13and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. 14And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. 15See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.
Prayer
Dear Heavenly father,
I thank you for today. Today that I spent time with you and delved into love. This went way above all I thought I would get. I thank you Holy Spirit for speaking to me and for me writing. Love is not easy. And we can only do it through you Jesus. So, I pray for me and whoever is reading this that you will help us to love the way that you loved us. Help us have that selfless, agape, philia, eros, storge, and philautia love. Let us not just be hearers of the word, but doers as well. Father God, I pray that you show us what we have been calling love in our lives that isn’t actually love. That is pride, selfishness, greed masked up as love. I pray we will humble ourselves and repent. I pray we will be selfless like you were selfless. God, I pray for America that there will be a revival of love. That you will transform us and we will be love. we will be patient. We will be kind. we will not be rude. We won’t be irritable or resentful. That we won’t keep a record of wrongdoing. I pray we will help our neighbors, even when the neighbors don’t look like us. God, I pray against any spirit of hatred in all forms. I pray against any spirit of fear, but you have not given us the spirit of fear but of love, power, and self-control. Holy Spirit, I pray that in the pruning we won’t ignore loving because it’s hard. But in those times, we will truly lean on you. Loving the annoying person at church. The frustrating family member. And loving those who aren’t Christian too. I pray our love brings them to Christ, like Paul and Silas brought that God. Thank you for being love. I pray in our love for you we will also stop our sinful ways. Thank you that you loved that world that you gave your Son. And thank you Jesus for living a perfect life and dying a sinner’s death for me. Let our love not be passive. Let our love speak for the oppressed. Let our love when necessary, flip tables. Let it be authentic to the way that you’ve made us. Let it not be for money or for fame or power but let love be that your name will be glorified.
Help me to love.
In Jesus’ Name
– Amen
This is Me: Finding My Voice 
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