How many times have we as Christians found ourselves looking at someone's personal situation or circumstance and formed a judgment upon them? How many times have we looked down upon someone, completely bewildered and confused as to why they would make such a choice or decision? We formulate a hypothesis of how that person must be out of the will of God...after all, only good things happen when you are in the will of God. Clearly that person is in some sort of heinous sin or lifestyle and God is casting heavy discipline on them.
We carry our self-righteous conclusions...at times we even verbalize them to that person, in Christian love of course...we make sure that it is crystal clear to that person that he/she must repent and get their life back on track. We share that person's situation or circumstance with fellow self-righteous, perfect Christians (in concern, of course) for that person. We join in "prayer" for that poor soul who is aimlessly floundering through one bad decision after another. We watch that person spiral down a slippery slope, hoping that one day God will be real enough to that person so that they will gain hope and clarity. We join hands with each other and support each other through the difficulty of having to deal with this person and their poor, destructive, and improper behavior. We choose to do what we feel is best for this person by alienating them, by giving them a version of "tough love".
We talk about how we need to show more compassion to the hurting...to those who don't know God...how we need to reach out a hand and help pull them up. However, it's just a warm, fuzzy, biblical speech that has nothing but the weight of phariseeical foundations throughout it.
Have you ever heard someone say "Love is a Verb"? Well it is. Love requires action. Love is a choice. Love is a lifeline. Love is an extension of our heart to another person. Words without action are empty. I say over and over again that I want to become a runner. I talk about how I need to commit myself to this endeavor. I look up the running plan of "Couch to 5k". I write it up, preparing for each day. I have all the best intentions in the world. I have no plans of not following through. The day comes that my training officially begins...the day that will require ACTION. For one poor excuse or another I fail to follow through. The plan was there, the preparation was taken, the end result was all mapped out. Yet, no action. Have I run a 5k yet? Nope. It not only takes good intentions, lofty goals, positive talk...it takes action.
Is this an accusatory post? No, it's not intended to be. If anyone needs to read this it is me. I will never stand before you claiming perfection. I will never say I have it all figured out...and honestly, if you know me at all you are fully aware of my flaws! The point of this post is to simply shed light on the importance of putting action behind our words. If you say that you love someone, show them. Just telling someone you love them and that you really care about them is only one part of the complex equation.
The ministry of Jesus was nothing but words in action. He showed His love through actions that shook the destructive direction of the universe. His love for us is unconditional, passionate, relentless, and ultimately rescuing us from eternal damnation. If Jesus just talked the talk and never backed up any of His words with action, we would all be destined for an eternity in hell. When Jesus was hanging on the cross, He could have used His "talk" and could have commanded 10,000 angels to release Him from the excruciating pain of the cross and take Him up to heaven, but because of His understanding of the power of the cross and the fact that His action would save all mankind, Jesus was called to action and suffered in our place. Beautiful words in action. What a mighty God.
Love is a verb.
How many times do we pick up little stones (meant to represent our own self-conceived wisdom and piety) on our journey in life? We find a stone that grabs our attention, put it in our bag of pious hypocrisy, and continue about our daily life. We look at others, expound on all the spiritual wisdom we have accumulated over our journey...we talk, talk, talk...while gathering what we feel are "spiritual" stones...only to use to throw at other with the misguided intention of helping them, of course. We find a fellow sojourner who is struggling...maybe they are in the midst of sin (by the way, we are ALL in the "midst of sin") and they are drowning.
It's time we stop casting stones at those who need love. Sometimes it's not only about the words you share with them, it's about the love you show them. Take action like Jesus did with the woman at the well. Instead of allowing those Pharisees to stone this woman to death for being caught in the very act of adultery, Jesus said "He who has no sin, cast the first stone". Jesus took action...He wrote something in the dirt (what I wouldn't give to have been able to see what He wrote in the dirt)...ultimately causing those Pharisee's one by one walk away...from the oldest to the youngest. Jesus took another action...He lovingly asked her, "where are your accusers?" and He called her to action. "Go and sin no more". A beautiful story of unconditional love, grace, and mercy.
Reach out to someone who is hurting today. Not only tell them you will pray for them but go that extra step from words to action and ask them what you can DO to help. Love them with your words. Love them with your actions. Love.
Don't allow yourself to be convinced that you can't really help someone...or that your action of love toward that person who desperately needs it would be in vain. Don't put expectations on the recipient of the action of your love, but rather view it as an action of obedience to God. Don't hold on to the responsibility and expect anything in return. Allow the Holy Spirit to work in that life. Take your hands off of it and allow God to do the rest, but don't use that as an excuse for you to stop continuing to show that person love.
It's time for us to not only talk the talk, but to also add that next element of our daily worship, and walk the walk. It's time we value other people...that we see them as God sees them.
We have all casted our "spiritual" stones against another person before. Imposing our "wisdom" on them and in return expecting our profound and puffed up wisdom to magically fix that person. If we feel they haven't accepted our wisdom or haven't done exactly what we think they should have done, we throw the whole "well, I am just not going to reach out anymore"... "there is nothing else I can do to help you"... "It's in God'd hands now-I am walking away". I sure am thankful that God didn't decide to do that to us.
Before you throw in the towel and give up on someone, search your heart and seek God on that decision before you abandon someone who desperately needs your love.
This journey called life is complicated...it's difficult...it can be scary. We aren't meant to walk this life alone-we are supposed to walk hand in hand with our brothers and sisters...no matter what. This is my prayer as I continue to grow in my walk with the Lord and also my walk with the relationships He so graciously gave me.
We need to love more. People are hurting. Time is running out. Drop the weight of false love and enter into a fulfilling life of actively loving others.
