More Love
So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13
Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 1 John 4:8
Movement 1: You are Loved
Read:
We love because he first loved us. 1 John 4:19
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16
God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
Reflect:
The next time you are looking around this world trying to make sense of things, remember this: God is love. This is our marker. Our measuring stick for everything. He is love. AND He loved you first. Before you could sing to Him in worship, before you could cry out in prayers of Thanksgiving, before you could use our gifts, passions, and skills to bring Him glory...He loved you first. Before you were born, He loved you. He loves you so much that He gave up His Son for you. In fact, you didn’t even deserve it - you were still a sinner. But even then, He loved you. And He still loves you today.
Pray:
For some of us, it is easy to feel God’s love. For others, it is more difficult. Whether you are in a place where you can readily feel God’s love or you can’t, close your eyes. Where is He in the room with you? Hear Him tell you how much He loves you. Just be with Him. He wants you to experience what it feels like to be fully loved for who you are, right where you are. All He wants is to be with you.
Movement 2: Love When You Don’t Want To
Read:
But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you. Luke 6:27-31
But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Luke 6:35
Reflect:
Now, this one...this one can be tough. It’s just like Jesus to turn everything upside down. We read these words and then do a double take and have to read them again. Love our enemy and do good to those who hate you? Bless those who curse you and pray for those who mistreat you? These things go against most things we know and hear in this world. Instead, we hear our flesh and the world around us say “Fight back. Get even. Curse them. Get yours.” And this can even feel good in our spirit—fight back and give them what they deserve. But remember the measuring stick: God is love. And we are to be like Him. We are to embody love. We are to be humble, generous, forgiving.
Pray:
Quiet your mind and think about someone you might call an enemy. Someone who has done you wrong or wronged someone you love. Hand over to God all the things your flesh wants to think, say, do to them. Then ask Him, “How do you want me to treat them?” Listen. See how He guides you in love. Then pray for them.
Movement 3: Love God
Read:
“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’” Mark 12:29-30
Reflect:
The greatest thing Jesus said we can ever do is love God. And not half-heartedly, but with everything we’ve got. In every realm of our life: with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength. We are not perfect and He knows that. He knows we won’t be able to love Him fully with all of ourselves, but that doesn’t mean we don’t try.
Pray:
Take a few minutes to pray through each of the realms Jesus listed in Mark 12: heart, soul, mind, strength. Ask Him to give you new, fresh ways to love Him in each of these areas. Ask Him to take you deeper into love with Him.