In struggling orphanages in parts of the world, children are sadly never shown love, they have never experienced a gentle loving touch, or affection, and are rarely cuddled. There is nothing physically wrong with these children, but they all lie lifeless in their cots, their bodies wasting away and their eyes staring vacantly ahead like little human shells.
However when people arrive at these orphanages to help the often overworked and overwhelmed staff, they begin to touch and cuddle these children, and to show them love. The children begin to gain weight, to smile and they come to life.
Why is there such a remarkable change in these children? Because humans were created in God’s image, and we are therefore created and wired up to love and be loved.
We all must experience love to be whole fulfilled people. The truth is that everyone is looking for love, to be valued and to feel special. Some are literally dying to be loved.
Some of us may have experienced love; we know God’s love, we know we are loved by others around us. But sadly one of the greatest weaknesses of most humans is their hesitancy to tell others how much they love them while they are still alive.
Love is not just words, it’s actions. Love is not to be governed by our feelings, but is a choice.
1 John 3:11 in the bible says, “This is the message from the beginning, “we should love one another”.
So how do we love fully? How do we express and tell others while they are still with us, that we love them? How do we love the seemingly unlovely; or those who are difficult to love.
1. Acknowledge God – receive His love.
When my husband Philip and I were married, one of the pastors who married us gave us some words of advice. He said, “Today you stand here thinking how could I ever get cross or not feel in love? But if you are ever having a day where you are cross with one another, where you have annoyed one another, and you just aren’t feeling very loving. Then that is the time to look to your heavenly Father, and ask Him to fill you with His love, so that you can then love one another more deeply.”
When we run out, God’s love comes in. When we choose to acknowledge God, we allow His love to fill our hearts.
2. Set aside yourself – be consecrated is another way of saying that. Let go of all of your hurts, and the things you have been carrying in your heart. Make room for God, and then others in your heart. When we carry resentment or undealt with hurts and fears we have no room for love. God says to us, “Make room for me, and make room for Love”!
3. Make a choice! “I have set before you life and death, therefore choose life” (Deuteronomy 30:19).
Don’t get caught up in the unimportant. Don’t live with regrets. Don’t get so busy you can’t see those around you. Enlarge the borders of your heart and life. There is so many who need to be loved. They need a kind word, a smile, a helping hand. Choose to open up your heart to love, and the giver of love who’s name is Jesus. He will fill your heart with a love that no fire, adversity, hardship or sorrow can extinguish. He will enable you to love with His love that never fails, with a love that changes people’s lives.
If you have been trying to do it alone in your strength and ability, simply turn to Him, ask His forgiveness and receive from Jesus all you need. He will make a way where it seems there is no way.
“Many waters cannot quench love, Nor will rivers overflow it” (Song of Solomon 8:7)
“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.” And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:4-8, 13)
“When it’s all said and done all our treasures will mean nothing. Only what we have done for love’s reward will stand the test of time”.
Prayer: Jesus I ask for you to please fill my heart with love. Forgive me where I have tried to love and live in my own strength and ability. I give you my whole heart and ask you to mend it and fill it with your love. Then help me to love others as you love me. In Jesus Name Amen.