Love Not Tease! ♡♡♡

 

If a friend says to me at every given opportunity - "Seun I love you" - Oh, I'll be all fluffy inside, you bet. But no matter how many times they say these nice words to me, if it isn't followed up by genuine actions, I'll begin to doubt that they really do so in the first place. I mean, who wouldn't?

You see "LOVE' is beyond "fluffiness and emptiness". Love does not have to question if it really is love, neither is it insecure or unsafe. Love is intentional. Love does not pretend. Love puts its money where its mouth is. And Jesus demonstrates this very clearly when He died for us on the cross. Love is not our will power. Love is God. And if Love is God, we sure do need God to love in a way that is true, real and lasting. I am not talking about the one where we start off with everything hunky dory, only to give up at any slightest challenge. I am talking about the one that has staying power. One that is tried and tested through storms, yet remains solid.

I've observed that it is very easy to become that Christian who subconsciously becomes more and more after "the blessings" than they are becoming more like Jesus. Too much familiarity in the faith, can cause us to forget that we are only ever set apart from the world by being more like the Christ we preach. Appreciated, that some of these Christlike attributes can appear hard and overwhelming. But it's only ever really when we are striving and trying by ourselves apart from God. Isn't it also interesting how we can set days apart to fast for material blessings or hold prayer meetings to haul down miracles (Please do your thing, nothing wrong ) - but it never really occurs to us, that we can "fast humbly" to love more, forgive more, sacrifice more and "insert here" all the other attributes that we see in scripture below. What we need is capacity!

Galatians 5:22 - 26  "But the fruit of the Spirit is Love, Joy, Peace, Forbearance, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self Control. Against such thing there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with it's passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

One intentional thing I know God does for us, is to use different circumstances, that challenge us to love in the way that He does. These can be hard on the heart sometimes, but if conquered can do great work in and through us. At our workplace, through our marriages, and through other types of relationships and situations. I have been a beneficiary of sacrificial love myself. I know how it encouraged and enhanced my faith deeply. I have also been a vessel of sacrificial outpouring. It comes with a price most times, but by patience and perseverance it is well worth it.

For every time we love the God way, we are preaching so much louder than our words could ever convey. No matter how much we strive for in the faith and how much we know about scripture; love still remains the true mark and identity of a Christian.  This is how we are marked out and set apart. We should desire to love more. Be in pursuit of it. Live it and encourage others to be it. 

If and when we do struggle to love the way God does, may we humble out in prayer to simply ask for the capacity to love more and then some more. 

            Here, some part of the lyrics of the song from Pieces I thought to leave you with as I sign out :)

"Your love's not fractured

It's not a troubled mind

It isn't anxious

It's not the restless kind

Your love's not passive

It's never disengaged

It's always present

And it hangs on every word we say

Love keeps its promises

It keeps its word

It honors what's sacred

'Cause its vows are good

Your love's not broken

It's not insecure no

Your love's not selfish

Your love is pure

You don't give Your heart in pieces

And you don't hide Yourself to tease us.

Lots of love,

Shay!