Hello from Kenya!
This will be my last blog so here it goes….
Lately God has been teaching me so much about how he loves me. I am involved in such a love affair. For a long time, even though I knew God loved me I wouldn’t let myself be loved. I kept taking away the power of what God did through Jesus on the Cross. I constantly lived a life full of guilt. Everything I did: quiet times, scripture memorization, going to church, and bible studies, wasn’t because I understood that He deeply loves me. I always thought as long as I keep doing those things I will finally reach a point where I would be in awe of God that I wouldn’t want to sin. All of the things I listed are good, but for me what caused me to be in awe of God, was realizing how much He loves me! Just knowing no matter what I do day by day he is constantly viewing me as a treasure and wants to spend time with me. HIS LOVE IS SO STRONG! I must let myself be loved. How can I share with people the love of God if I don’t let myself be loved.
Once I begin letting myself be loved I can begin to love people and share with them how much God loves them. God views everyone has his son or daughter. When I have that outlook, it changes the way I interact with all people. Secondly, God views believers as his temple (1 Cor. 3:16). Would I do anything to disgrace God’s temple? Probably not. Therefore, I need to watch how I speak and act towards one another. But this is not a mouth issue but a heart issue. Simply holding my tongue is not an act of love. My heart must change. Thanks goodness through Jesus, God has changed my heart from stone to flesh. With God it is possible to view people the way He does. I am so thankful for this.
Letting myself be loved by God and showing love to others are signs that I am a disciple of God. So often I think I need to be out preaching about the good news, doing bible studies, going to church, etc, to show people I am a believer. All of those things are good but people should be able to tell that I am a disciple of God by the way I love others. John 13:34-35 says, “A new command I give you: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” This has given me a new outlook on ministry. Every second of everyday I should be ministering to people by the way I show love to them. Whether they have a relationship with Jesus or not. However, I can only do this by letting myself be loved by God and asking God to help me to view people they same way he does.
Much love from Kenya,
Sam
