Show Me How to Love

Lately my thoughts meander. They’re grappling with experiences, wrestling with realities.

I’m seeing Him, understanding Him from a different perspective. It’s not new information, not something I conceptually didn’t understand before. It’s new realizations.

I’ve seen Him work in the ones close to me. I’ve watched hearts change and goals metamorphosis into worthy ambitions. I’ve seen happiness in Him, perfect contentment.

The development and transformation of people is an awesome thing.

Three weeks ago my sister (along with her high school) left for a ten-day trip to Belize. She traveled to an orphanage. It started there. Her perspective shift began with hard physical labor in the hot sun and high humidity, but that was only part of it. The children weaved their way into her heart, never to be forgotten. And God was there. She felt Him.

We were talking the day after she got back. I still clearly see my sister’s penetrating brown eyes, misty with emotion. Then I hear the words falling from her lips, “We went there to bless them, but they blessed us. By our standards those kids have nothing, but Kendall they have so much more than we do. You should hear them sing worship songs… Kendall, they love God so much and it’s obvious.”

But she didn’t stop there, “Kendall, I’ve been thinking happiness, true happiness, is in serving. We weren’t put here to make ourselves happy, but to help others. And in helping others, helping them see Jesus, we find our happiness.”

So much wisdom coming from the voice of a fifteen year old.

Then almost a whisper, “Someday I’ll go back.”

Over and over I return to this conversation. It’s etched into my mind. What she said resonated within, tugged at my heartstrings, and provoked my thoughts.

I started thinking about my motivations, goals and dreams. Who am I?

And I saw myself. I was standing in filthy rags desperately clutching onto me… Apart from Jesus, I stood there alone, wretched, and hopelessly ensnared in my selfishness.

Then I saw Him.

I saw His unquenchable love for me, the unlovable.

And I realized that His love is so much more than a feeling or even a simple action. It’s a lifestyle.

“But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners…. For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.” Romans 5:8,10-12 NLT

It’s a call to discipleship, to tell others of Him. And we need to make an intelligent choice. Am I willing to follow Him? Are you?

I came across this quote in my Bible lesson, “Salvation is free, but discipleship costs everything we have.” Ultimately it cost Jesus His life. We are to count the cost of discipleship and make an intelligent well-informed decision.

Jesus says, “But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it? Otherwise, you might complete only the foundation before running out of money.” “So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own.” Luke 14: 28,29,33 NLT

Am I in it for the long haul? Am I willing to sacrifice all on the alter of surrender?

Being a follower of Christ is not something I can half-heartedly through myself into.

It requires everything.

And without giving everything, nothing can be gained. 

Christ calls for my entire heart.

Tonight the song Forgiveness, by Matthew West played on the radio. The lyrics stirred my thoughts.   

“Show me how to love the unlovable

Show me how to reach the unreachable

Help me now to do the impossible” (Forgiveness) 

I parked my car and bowed my head.

I asked Him to show me how to love. How to live like Him.

I am not in this spiritual race to run without spirit. I am in the race to win, to see others cross the spiritual finish line. Are you?

This race will cost me everything. It will cost you everything; maybe even our lives. But because of His love, His great love for you and me. We are willing to take the risk. To throw ourselves entirely into the race, never looking back.