With the holidays coming to an end I wonder how I am going to take the message of Christmas with me throughout this upcoming year. I think of Christmas as a time to explore this Gift of love that has been given to the world. By exploring this Gift I think of how can I show love to others and what does that even mean anymore?
Love seems irrelevant in a time when violence seems to be the only way that justice is seen and where only few voices are heard. Somehow love has been thrown to the backseat and now violent justice seems to be driving! Yikes!!! I’m pretty sure that we haven’t gone too far but maybe we need a reminder of what love is. I know that there are many types of love and love can be expressed in many ways. So what kind of love is expressed during Christmas that can be experienced and conveyed all year long?
John 15:13 “Greater love has no one than this that one lay down his life for his friends.”
1 John 3:16 “By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.”
John 3:16 “For God expressed His love for the world in this way: He gave His only Son so that whoever believes in Him will not face everlasting destruction, but will have everlasting life.”
This is the type of love I am referencing through these verses only comes in one form. Right? Well, I don’t know that I am going to enlist in the military or that I am going to die for anyone anytime soon. I love my friends and my family, however; that is a lot to ask for and I am pretty sure that God knows what I am thinking.
I wonder if laying down my cushioned life right now could be one way to look at these verses. Meaning that I could give something up, like laying that part of my life down. Since I love “parts” work, why not take this in that direction?!! Why not think of my time as giving myself for my friend or fellow human being? Or if I don’t have time, why not money, why not whatever is extremely important to me? Can I really do this all year around? Could I actually give gifts of love to people who I don’t know and possibly could judge? What a challenge!! Could you give some kind of gift that might break the bank or take up a weekend, especially for people who you might judge on the outside, not knowing their full “story”? What if they represented a group of people you feel does not deserve gifts of time, money, or something you consider extremely valuable? Something that you value high on your list; I mean we are talking about your life, right?
I can hear a lot of opposition going on in my head, can you? Well, what if I can’t pay my bills next month, I have a couple of busy weekends up ahead, or it’s been a busy week and the last thing I want to do is help in a kitchen or soup line. I can also hear another voice saying well, how do you want to demonstrate love? How does God demonstrate His love to you? I mean, that is a tough one to follow, but I also get the idea that my human mind doesn’t want to give up comfort. And I am sure the folks that need my help are not asking that I give up my life, just a couple hours of my time or possibly some money, not the whole bank. I mean really, in reality, if we all gave some part of something important up we could keep giving the gift of love.
I am not huge on New Year’s resolutions or goals; I actually find that if I am not already doing something why not start right now, why wait till January 1st? However, being that it is already the New Year, why not start this weekend? I don’t know what is on your heart right now, I do know that this topic of giving can make some people feel guilt, shame, anger, sadness, or scared. I think people’s hearts can start to harden, and become afraid that if they start to help others people will take advantage of them. And sure some might try, and a lot of people would be very happy to know that people out there still care about them and their position. Maybe a friend is in need, maybe starting small is one way to go or maybe just getting out there away from your comfort zone is a good way to start.
How about looking at it from the other side? Creating compassion is huge; it is what we are called to do as humans.
Colossians 3:12-14 “So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.”
I imagine people who have to stand in a soup line or receive outside assistance in some way, also feel anger, shame, guilt, sadness and scared. I could not imagine having to wonder if I was going to make it to my next meal or if I could make rent. Here, I think of this as a basic need, and how mad would I be if I was made to feel less than because of something happening in my life that causes me to be in this position. And yes, I hear it now, what about those who chose this life in some way? Well, I don’t think God calls me to question, just to serve. That is between that person and God. I am not called to judge or interrogate what each person receiving my assistance has done to get into this situation.
What I know is people are out there who need to be shown what love truly means. We also need to be reminded of the great gift that was given to us. For those of us who do believe in the Bible I carefully chose Bible verses that conveyed exactly what I believe the gift of love looks like.
I know that not everyone who reads this believes in the Bible, I am not asking you too, I am asking you to open your minds and hearts to this idea that the God of your understanding is asking you to step out of your comfort zone, lean into your edges. If you want to grow deeper in your understanding of love then it might be time to take a leap and sacrifice.
