In light of Valentine’s day, I’m inspired by all the love
going around.
Honestly, I think it’s silly how a holiday can require us to
spend a good amount of money in the stores and in the chocolate, flower, and
jewelry industry all in one day. We are hooked in though, we wouldn’t want our
loved ones to feel un-loved!
Anyways, that’s not my rant today, nor my purpose for
writing.
Today, my talk is about true love.
Just to make things clear, this isn’t my love story, for
mine has not yet started. I’m not loosing hope, I know God is in the works of
something I’ve always dreamed of! The dream of having a man fall
head-over-heels in love with me…
Also, I’m also not sharing how I think relationships between man
and woman were meant to be…I will save that for a later date! ha!
Today, I share about loving the Bride as Christ loves the
bride.
I could offer a long spill about how people have been
wounded by the bride. Yes, the church tends to be moody at times and doesn’t
treat the broken like the fragility that is should. Sometimes the bride tosses
the broken away out of easiness in our busy lives. Sometimes the bride looks
ugly in neglecting to prepare herself properly. Yes, I can admit, overall the
bride needs help, the church is broken! (a.k.a we are broken) But, let’s not treat her selfishly by giving up on her (ourselves) and
what she represents. It’s some unconditional love that she needs.
Let’s see her for the potential that she can be, and like a
real bride, let’s adorn her with a shower of gifts, by putting our best into
her. See what she needs and fill that need, instead of running away and talking
about it. (a.k.a gossip about people we know in church) Let’s prepare her for the wedding to come,
for the return of her bridegroom that is worthy of a beautiful and spotless
bride!
This all sounds glorious, yes! Let’s save the bride and help
her say, ‘Yes to the dress’! Now, how can we practically accomplish that?
First step: Take
ownership and responsibility.
Parents can understand this. When your toddler takes a
baseball bat to the neighbor’s car, you get the blame and you get the
responsibility. No making excuses for your child, you as the responsible
parent, discipline them and walk the road of not destroying property. The same
goes for the church. When the church hurts someone, take responsibility, and
decide to stick with it and be what she is supposed to be. Let’s not make excuses. Don’t run away
with hands in the air, “I’m done”, all because someone made a mistake. Instead, in being responsible we love what has been hurt. Then, we walk the road of teaching the bride to not hurt again.
Sometimes it's actually us that gets hurt. When our needs aren’t met by the leadership or body, it’s easy to run away looking
to find someone that will cater to that every need. The responsibility of the
church is not to give handouts. It’s to preach the good news, to make
disciples, and to encourage us to look more like Christ. Get involved and see
how God the Father caters to your needs, it’s much better than what the church can
give you!
Second step: Take the
lead, as if life is a dance.
The broken and lost are searching, even longing to be
swooped up and saved. We’ve let passivity step in between. Being aware that we
are what God has sent to be the hands and feet, we can rid ourselves of
insecurity or inferiority and choose the truth that we have the key to freedom
in Jesus! Let’s man and woman up; choose deep conversations over small talk.
Get to know someone that isn’t in your small group. Choose to lead a co-worker
in a path that leads to prosperity and not death. Teaching someone to dance
isn’t easy. It takes slowing down and lots of practice. It takes commitment.
Third step: (and I will stop here today) Don’t loose hope.
It’s very easy to think there is no end in sight. ‘I put
in my time at work, my time in my family, my time into the church. I give my
money to the church and even to my missionary friend. I have too much going on
and cannot see the reward in going the extra mile’. My friends, I understand
busyness. But, I do not want to give into it or condone it for one more second.
Our day to day lives should not justify ignoring God. Let’s call it what it is,
disobedience. The time is now; you know well that when we put it off, it
doesn’t get done. Let’s commit together to run the race. Let’s commit to make
the bride beautiful by allowing us to be transformed from the inside out.
It’s starts in us my friend. Let what’s ugly be ripped out
and what is righteous be rooted in. Man up, pick up that cross with the promise
of His strength in our weakness. Let’s walk in simple obedience. When God says
give, give. When God says rest, rest. When God says talk to your neighbor, do
it! When God says give yourself to the youth group, give. He has nothing but
good in mind for you. He’s got nothing but worthiness and glory in mind for
himself, and He chooses our lives to display that!! Let’s give, empty ourselves
to the one worthy of it all. Let’s love him by loving his bride and his lost
children.
Let’s love well.
Ready, set, go!!!
