Inspirational article from Joanne Lowe

LOVE FROM YOUR HEART

“Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.”

1 John 3: 16 – 18 King James Version

I have read and heard of many committees that were formed to discuss hunger and what can be done to feed people who don’t have the money to buy enough groceries. When someone is hungry, that person can’t wait for a committee to decide how to proceed, he or she needs to eat now! It is the same with people who are hurting and desperately need to know that someone cares. They can’t wait for an appointment to talk to somebody; they need comfort and encouragement right now!

Jesus may never ask us to literally die for someone, but He not only asks, He commands us to love each other from our hearts. How can we love people the way that Jesus wants us to love them? We can love them by forgiving them when they hurt us and by humbling ourselves and asking them to forgive us when we hurt them.

We can lay down our lives for our loved ones by being quiet when we are attacked verbally. It is very hard not to say something harsh in return to someone. We can’t just decide to be quiet and not say something cruel to them. It takes Jesus working in our hearts to make us into the loving and kind people that He so desires for us to become. Have you allowed Jesus to melt your hardened heart so that you can love others with unconditional love? More importantly, do you love Jesus with all your heart? Have you given Him everything?

Joanne Lowe

January 24, 2007

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