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Posted on June 11, 2019June 11, 2019 by Let Love Be My Motive — Leave a comment

Love In Action

In the United States of America, we all have at one time made a god out of comfort. We can see it embedded everywhere in our culture. Many of us have this idea that the next vacation will give us the peace we need, if only we had more time we would find what we are looking for, or if we had that job we have been dreaming of that everything would be great. In reality, would the peace we are so desiring come from the next big thing?

Absoltuley not.

True peace can only be found in the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ.

We live in a day and age where we are always looking for the best best thing. But, did you know that if you make over $2 a day, that your are apart of the world’s richest…

Here in the United States we often get caught up in the trap of comparison. When in reality, we are better off than most of the world. If you do not have to go on a hunt to find clean drinking water today, you are doing better than 780 million people. According to WASH, 2.5 billion people lack access to sanitation. That is 35% of the world’s population.

I want us to look together at the example that Jesus left us when it comes to giving.

Jesus, the spotless lamb, God in flesh did not come into this world and find comfort. He came into this world and was treated terribly. He was spit upon and accused when he did no wrong, and ultimately beaten and crucified. So, where did we get that life was going to be comfortable?

In my walk with Jesus, I have never been without. He does promise we will lack for nothing and that HE is our provider. I firmly stand on the word of God and that his promises are true. However, if Jesus gave up everything including his own life for us, shouldn’t we be doing the same for our brothers and sisters and even who is our enemies?

I am not saying all of us are missing it. But, I do believe that many of us are. We have made a god out of comfort.

When we see someone in need, do we help them or do we pass by?

The word of God says that we are going to be known by if we love like Jesus. In 1 John 3, it says we are to love in deed and in truth. Which means, we are to put love in action that carries out God’s inner desire and purpose for our life in an undeniable reality that cannot be hidden.

We need to love like that.

In a country we have so much, we should be be giving and giving some more. If God is our provider, why are we scared to give?

As Christians, followers of Jesus, we need to actually follow him and his ways. To love people in the way that he loved. We have Holy Spirit to guide us in how to love in action. But, we must be obedient to what he has called us to do. Will you give up your morning Starbucks to provide a meal to someone today? Will you go and buy shoes for someone who has none? Will you give up your time to the lonely and brokenhearted? Spread the Good News to those who have not heard?

Many times God wants us to be obedient in the small steps Holy Spirit gives us, which in turn make a huge impact.

Let us put love in action today, laying down our comfort, and giving ourselves unto others in a way that people know it is the love of God that they felt.

Posted on June 3, 2019 by Let Love Be My Motive — 2 Comments

The Responsibility To Spread Our Aroma (Yep, You Read That Correctly)

Wow, wow, wow. You know when the Lord wakes you up at 2am and wants to speak, it is going to be good! This morning he left me plenty to meditate on. However, I only want to share what he has spoken to me to directly share with you.

Let us focus together in 2 Corinthians 2:

“But thanks be to God, who always leads us in Christ’s triumphal procession and through us spreads the aroma of the knowledge of him in every place. For to God we are the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To some we are an aroma of death leading to death, but to others, an aroma of life leading to life. Who is adequate for these things?For we do not market the word of God for profit like so many. On the contrary, we speak with sincerity in Christ, as from God and before God.” -2 Corinthians 2:14-17 CSB

If you have not figured it out already, we as Children of God, are not everyone’s cup of tea. Or as Paul puts it in 2 Corinthians, the aroma we give off is not always the most enticing to those who are perishing. Can you remember a time before you knew Jesus and someone was trying to talk to you about him? Yeah, me too. (Shout out to my Aunt and Grandma who never grew weary in planting seeds!!) During this time, I can remember what they were saying sounded unappealing and like a bunch of trash. I thought they were being annoying and “shoving their religion down my throat”. (Sound familiar?) To me, when I did not have a relationship with God, the truth in what they were speaking gave me the aroma of trash. It smelled bad, it tasted bad, and I simply did not want to hear anything they had to say.

Let’s flash forward to today now that I have a relationship with God… I am faced with the same situations my Grandma and Aunt went through with me. Friends, family, and other people I am faced with on a daily basis because they do not have a relationship with God are unable to acknowledge the truth I have spoken as something that smells good and gives life. Rather, because they are blinded by satan’s lies and are unable to see the truth due to the blinders he has put on, every word that comes out of my mouth gives off a stench rather than a beautiful fragrance.

What are we supposed to do as Christian’s in these situations?
Let’s look at the very first verse and the very last…

” But thanks be to God, who always leads us in Christ’s triumphal procession and through us spreads the aroma of the knowledge of him in every place.” –2 Corinthians 2:14 CSB

“we do not market the word of God for profit like so many. On the contrary, we speak with sincerity in Christ, as from God and before God.” -2 Corinthians 2:17 CSB

Heaven is our home and the world is fallen. Not everyone is going to agree with us and that is okay. It is of great importance to remember, our war is not against flesh and blood but against dark principalities in which we cannot see. People themselves, are NOT our enemy. The devil loves to try and trick us to make us think they are though. Be aware of his schemes. (You can read more on this in 2 Corinthians 2 as well).

But, in EVERY place we go, whether we choose to realize it our not, we are giving off a fragrance. Not everyone is going to like the aroma we give off. However, this should not stop us nor discourage us from living like Jesus and “spreading the aroma of the knowledge of him in every place”. There are many people we run into on a daily basis that have been given the wrong image of Jesus due to wolves in sheep’s clothing. After all, the devil does disguise himself as an angel of light right? I cannot put enough emphasis on HOW important it is that we are constantly bearing ripe fruit and imitating Jesus example. People want Jesus, they may not acknowledge it aloud. I know that I did not when I was caught up in worldly affairs. But this should not discourage us to not show the love of Christ and speak the truth. This is not a time for us to shrink back. This is a time to pray for boldness and courageousness, to speak the truth in love, and to spread the Good News!

In verse 17 Paul talks about people who speak the word of God for profit. Unfortuantley, there are many “pastors” that feed themselves rather than tending to the sheep. I want to be clear, I am not saying that Pastor’s should not get paid. In fact, Pastor’s should get paid, it is biblical! What Paul is talking about here is that there are people in this world, false prophets and teachers, or people who have gone astray and will tell you what you ear is itching for, rather than speaking the truth of God’s word. There are pastor’s in this world whose hearts are in the wrong place and are “pastoring” for the status quo and money, rather than tending to the sheep. I love how Michael Todd talked about being a “Lead Pastor” in his Marked Series. He said, “Rather than being called Lead Pastor, I should really be called Lead Servant”. Can I get an AMEN!? Paul states, that we are speak with sincerity in Christ. There is nothing worse than speaking from a place of hypocrisy and simply lip service.

This world NEEDS genuine faith, transparency, and vulnerability. As Christian’s, we do not have it all together. But we do have a God who does. We do have Jesus who has given us healing, wholeness, and freedom. The world needs genuine faith and a sincere heart.

If my Grandma and Aunt would have looked at me as the world does, for my misdeeds and sins or if they would have wound up discouraged because of my action, if they would have gotten weary in doing good and would have gossiped and complained rather than going to God in prayer… In all honestly I do not think I would be alive today. The devil was well on his way in trying to kill me with drugs and suicidal thoughts. In the end, as children of God, we know that we “triumph”! We are more than conquerors and victory is ours through Jesus Christ! Do not let people’s reactions to speaking the truth discourage you. Speak the truth in love anyways! We are to look at people as Jesus looks at them. Not through the eyes of sin, but through the lens of love. Pray and ask him to help you with this if you need help. I know that I need his strength to do this.

We as Christians need to remember that we have a responsibility to give people what this world does not even realize they are desiring, an opportunity to make Jesus the Lord of their life. We were all once lost and if you were anything like me, did not want to hear anything the “bible thumpers” had to say. But the seeds that my Aunt and Grandma planted, God gave the growth. Follow Holy Spirit’s leading in spreading the Good News. The world NEEDS love. We know that perfect love is GOD himself. If you are rejected, remember they are not rejecting you, they are rejecting Jesus. IMMEDIATELY go to God and intercess on their behalf. Prayer brings heaven to earth. Remember the one you are communicating with is the ONLY ONE who can change the heart.

Questions To Reflect On:

What aroma am I giving off?
Does my aroma smell like Christ or does it smell like the world?
Do I need to pray and ask God for boldness and courageousness to speak the Good News?
Who can I share the Good News with today? Who can I share what God has done in my life with?
Who can I pray for today? (You can pray Acts 26:18 for the lost)

Truth To Chew On

Matthew 28:16-20
2 Corinthians 5 (Specifically verses 20-21)
Mark 16:14-20
Psalm 96:3
Revelation 12:11

Posted on December 4, 2018December 4, 2018 by Let Love Be My Motive — Leave a comment

Let Them See You

At work, I am required to wear a red t-shirt. It just so happens that the only red t-shirt I have is my #JESUS shirt that I was given to by our church. Every single day, I am required to interact with people.

All types of people.

Happy people, mad people, tired people, lost people. I think you get what I am saying. I am in retail. There are many different types of people that walk through those doors.

I am called to be joyful, loving, forgiving, slow to speak, slow to anger, and quick to listen. I am called to respond in love, not matter what the person comes in with. As I look down at my red #JESUS shirt I am reminded, even without the shirt I am always carrying Jesus with me.

I am his child.

Therefore, no matter where I am I should be responding the way he would. In love, joyful, abundant in mercy, slow to speak, slow to anger, and quick to listen. This shirt has given me an unexpected accountability. It does not matter how people treat me, I choose to respond in love.

There are many times where I do need to pray and ask God to help. He has been faithful to point out and show me things through his eyes. He has shown me those who have needed prayer and given me the opportunity to do so. Glory to God for even giving me the opportunity to be a vessel.

No matter if you have on the red #Jesus shirt or not. Let us be reminded that we are always called to show love and respond just as Jesus would. Those we interact with should hear him when we open our mouth and our actions should all reflect him. The fruit we bear should be fruit of the spirit, ripe and juicy all the way through.

The love we show is not based on how they treat us. Aren’t you thankful that God’s love is not based on our performance? I am so thankful for his mercy and his grace. Because, I do slip up from time to time.

I write as a reminder this morning, let Jesus shine through you today. Let your speech be seasoned with salt and every action you take be motivated by his love.

Let all we do be done for him and his kingdom.

When people see us, let them see and feel the love of our heavenly father.

Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. -Ephesians 5:1-2 NKJV

Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one. -Colossians 4:6 NKJV

But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness,Gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence). Against such things there is no law [that can bring a charge]. -Galatians 5:22-23 AMPC

Posted on October 1, 2018 by Let Love Be My Motive — Leave a comment

“He Loved Them To The End”

As I read and studied John 13 this morning, the love of Jesus began to shine through the pages and upon my heart. As I studied, Jesus gave me a fresh perspective of his love. His love for others, including Judas. He never stopped loving him and he commanded us to us to not stop either. While Judas was betraying Jesus…Jesus actually gave the disciples this commandment:

“I give you a new commandment: love one another. Just as I have loved you, you must also love one another.

By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”-John 13:34-35 CSB

I cannot help but think of the actions of Jesus during this. He knew what was going to happen. He knew what Judas was doing. Yet, while he was being betrayed, he commanded the disciples to love one another.

Jesus never stopped loving Judas.

He never told us to stop either.

Jesus commanded us to do the opposite.

Even though Jesus knew Judas’ heart and the pain he was about to endure, he still had communion with Judas and he still washed his feet. He still humbled himself and served him.

When I began to re-read the chapter, there was an essential part that I missed in the very beginning of the chapter.

“Before the Passover Festival, Jesus knew that His hour had come to depart from this world to the Father. Having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.”-John 13:1 CSB

Judas was one of Jesus’ own. He loved him till the end and commands us to love him till the very end too. No string attached. Just love.

Have you ever been betrayed by someone you love? Someone you thought would never hurt you?

If you are reading this right now, I am sure you have. Jesus is the perfect example of how we are called to live our life. He is the perfect example of pure love. Pure love, love’s even when it has been betrayed. Pure love, love’s even in the midst of of being hurt. Love does not give up or waver due to to circumstance. Pure love, love’s despite people’s actions. As God’s word states, by loving those that have done us wrong, we show that we are his disciples & we are following his example.

If you are hurting because of someone as you read this, take this moment to have communion with the father and forgive them. For me, this meant me asking for forgiveness too. I am still learning to love. I still stumble from time to time. However, I choose this day, at this moment, to love like Jesus. I choose to love not based upon other people’s actions. But, love because Jesus commanded me to and gave me the perfect example to do it. I hope you take this moment to chose to love like Jesus too.