Love One Another

God has been trying to get through this thick head of mine (and especially my heart) to realize that God looks at us as a whole. I thought during the seasons I would abide with Him He would really love me.  During those seasons that I was not abiding as much and His voice was far, I thought He would love me less and would be filled with disappointment.

The real truth is that God loves us before we loved Him. This means that He always loves us no matter what. It is my heart that yearns for His.  He is never far from mine; it was my heart that can stray far from His and must be found again.  I was viewing God's love as conditional and based upon performance.  Since none are worthy, no performance will ever win what was never lost. Therefore, I was not really understanding nor feeling God's love because I was truly limiting myself.

The real truth is that God loves us before we loved Him. This means that He always loves us no matter what. It is my heart that yearns for His.  He is never far from mine; it was my heart that can stray far from His and must be found again.  I was viewing God's love as conditional and based upon performance.  Since none are worthy, no performance will ever win what was never lost. I was not really understanding nor feeling God's love because I was truly limiting myself.  

When I began to understand this, God showed me that those closest to me were also being viewed this way.  If they did things that were thoughtful and caring, then I would show feel loved. If it was mean and insensitive, then I would hold back to avoid getting hurt and feel insecure. This type of love measures and compares and is not love at all. One cannot trully love this way. How great it is that God does not love us in this way!

In addition, we must not view our brothers and sisters in Christ in this way.  Determining if their heart is sincere.  God judges our hearts - what gives us the right?  We are to love our Christian family fully and this allows us to help each other along the path, understanding we share these same struggles and support each other along this journey.  After all, what other may mean to harm us, God means for our best.  We can encourage each other through these struggles.

I have been guilty of helping some come to Christ or meeting new Christians and instead of helping them with understanding the scripture or coming closer to God, coming to a new formula or law.  If we are free, then we are free indeed.  Not every Christian must listen to Christian music or gospel.  We all don't have to attend the same church and dress the same.  If we were all meant to be identical would God have created such variety in nature? 

If I look into God's nature, I see all different type of flowers -- which is superior?  Of all of God's creatures, which has been given less thought and care in their design?  Each serves a unique purpose and has the signature of a God that loves us each intently, uniquely -- full of purpose -- and best of all, consistenly.  Even the rocks exhibit unique characteristics between the same type.  For example, granite is unique to its location although it has the same basic qualities.  Each piece of granite is beautiful in its own right -- which is better?  So it is with people, too.

If we lift up this veil of society and look underneath, we may find that we are all the same -- we all feel, we all bleed, we all hunger and we all search to be accepted.  God does not see classes or race or prestige -- He sees the hearts of His people.  Man sees the labels.  God sees the beauty in His designs, how each of us are fingerprints of His craftsmanship. 

Each of us are made with purpose and intent.  He who made our flaws understands why and can and will turn them around until our weaknesses are works of beauty for His glory to shine through.  So it must be with a gentle heart that we view each other.  Among all things, to love one another as God loves us.  The sin is not the person and must not be confused.  When this is difficult, ask God to show the heart of the matter through His eyes, His perspective.

The sun shines in differently through all types of materials and windows through my house.  It moves around the house differently depending on the season.  It is the same with us.  Although God always is, our relationship changes with the season.  God never leaves us nor forsakes us.  Love never fails.  Although we may only see a season or a part of person's life, God is at work.  What a priviledge it is to have friends from the whole of your life to see how God works in and out issues, seasons and character -- how He works throughout a person's life.  I, myself, am still overcoming.  Those around me are too.  Lord, may I see others with your perspective and patience.

After all, the bottom line is not a dollar.  The bottom line is the Love of our Lord and did they know I am His.