Pages

RSS Feed

Wednesday, May 11, 2022

To Change, Give Myself Away in Love

In Romans 12:4-5 I read, “Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other." (NLT)


If I want lasting change in my life, I must fill my life with love.


Love is the only thing that can change the unchangeable. Love heals, uplifts, strengthens, energizes, refreshes, and renews. Love is the most powerful force in the universe because, as 1 John 4:8 says, “God is love” (NIV).


As a Believer, where do I find this kind of love? In community with other Believers.


God wired the universe in such a way that we need each other. The phrase “one anotheris used 58 times in the New Testament. It says things like love one another, care for one another, encourage one another, support one another, pray for one another, greet one another, share with one another.


God never meant for me to go through life by myself. The Bible says in Romans 12:4-5, “Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other” (NLT).


What does it mean to “belong to each other”? It means I need the people around me, and they need me. We become each other’s spiritual family. I help others toward goals and encourage others as I become more like Christ. 


The Bible is clear about what love looks like in a spiritual family: “Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other” (Romans 12:9-10 NLT).


Take delight in honoring each other” means when people in my community have a win in their health, finances, or any goal they’ve set, I celebrate with them. And when life is difficult, the community of believers is the first to comfort and support.


Here’s the amazing thing: God has wired the universe so that when I help others, God simultaneously works on my problems. There is healing in giving back. 


Remember when Job lost everything, including his health, his family, and his wealth? At the end of the story, God gave it all back to Jobbecause Job prayed, not for himself but for his friends. The Bible says, “After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before” (Job 42:10 NIV).


To obtain lasting and positive changes as I work toward my goals, I need to give myself away in love, and then watch God work in my life.


In summary, If I want lasting change, I must fill my life with love. Love is the only thing that can change the unchangeable. Love heals, uplifts, strengthens, energizes, refreshes, and renews. Love is the most powerful force in the universe because, “God is love”.  Where do I find this kind of love? It is found in community with other Believers. God wired the universe in such a way that we need each other. The phrase “one anotheris used 58 times in the New Testament. God never meant for me to go through life by myself. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other”. I need other people around me, and they need me to become each other’s spiritual family. Love in a spiritual family doesn't just pretend to love, it really loves. It hates what is wrong. It holds tight to what is good. So, love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other”. This taking delight means when people in my community have a win, I celebrate with them. And when life is difficult, the community of believers is the first to comfort and support. God has wired the universe so that when I help others, God simultaneously works on my problems. When Job lost everything, God gave it all back to him because Job prayed, not for himself but for his friends. To obtain lasting and positive changes I need to give myself away in love, and then watch God work in my life.


Paul used the concept of the human body to teach how Christians should live and work together. Just as the parts of the body function under the direction of the brain, so Christians are to work together under the command and authority of Jesus Christ. 

0 comments: