Love Lived Out

 

 Love Lived Out 

“Love is patient, love is kind. Love does not envy, is not boastful, is not arrogant, is not rude, is not self seeking, is not irritable, and does not keep a record of wrongs. Love finds no joy in unrighteousness but rejoices in truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

I was sitting with some women I used to do jail ministry with and they were sharing all the places they were serving. One spoke about the streets of Dayton and another spoke of shelter for women. Serving the least of these and in that seeing and experiencing the love is what draws them back those places. Not once has God taken His eyes off those women in the streets or shelter. How do these ladies continue to go in and do what God is calling them to do even after the time serving them leaves them restless and unable to sleep? Jesus loves them and this they know.

Jesus is the love of God made available through them. It is an extension that doesn’t make sense. It is the Living Word that has permeated their heart and mind. They love because He first loved them. That is the very reason we love.

As we sat my friend told a story that made you want to turn away and close your ears. Things that she has seen that will keep her up at night after spending time serving women who feel forgotten. She knows going to those places and that night leaves her restless without sleep. Her heart is still praying even as she is not there her thoughts are fixed upon those women. She loses sleep but never once does the Father take His eyes off of her. Or those things that she has seen. He never takes His off of those who feel forgotten.

I heard recently, “Sometimes purpose is simply showing up with faith, compassion, and a willing heart. That struck me in a way of remembrance that almost jumped started my heart again. I will get in these places that wrestle with God of wanting to believe and wanting to know how things turn out it isn’t mine to know. Like those ladies that continue to go out and serve in a way of showing up they might never see anything come from that. Or as one story was shared of a life that was changed they might. We never know what God will do with those opportunities to serve people showing them His heart. I must keep showing up with faith that God can move and display His compassionate and willing heart to keep going.

Not self seeking but seeking those He puts in our path. Patient because of the patience He has for us when we forget. Not what I want but His plans for me.

That love that is seen in us that believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Loved lived out because of our lives in Christ. Jesus loves us this we know. We can BE His love lived out for this world.