My praying lately has been focused toward asking God to fill me up with everything that is still lacking in me as it pertains to being a Christian, being Christ-like (Colossians 1:24). In particular, my prayers have been in asking Jesus to teach me how to love others the way he loves me. (John 15:12).
This has always been a point of tension for me. I know what I am called to do and in many areas of life I have no problems loving and expressing Jesus' love. But when it comes to laying my guts out or letting other people lay theirs out to me, I've always struggled more than I know I should. Whether it's the remnant from some old wound of mine or just an unwillingness to surrender fully, I seem to continually misunderstand certain opportunities to love and be loved and sometimes I just refuse them or miss them entirely.
I am becoming a pretty avid bike rider (Road Bikes) and I travel one particular route almost every week now. About half way through my normal ride there are a very significant set of hills that challenge me differently each time I climb them. God used those hills as a metaphor to teach me a few things about loving the way Jesus loves, so I thought I would share.
1. Every time I come to that sets of hills I have a choice to go on or to turn around. In the same way, every time the opportunity to choose love arises, I have to choose it or not.
2. Each time I say "Yes" and begin the climb, there are uniquely difficult obstacles up every new grade and around every corner. In the same way, all of the twists and turns of loving and allowing myself to be loved present their own interesting and sometimes vexing challenges.
3. Along the way the road gets hard in places, there many points at which I could give up, stop, or turn around. But the end results when I press on and finish well are always the same; Blessing, peace, satisfaction and victory. In the same way, the daily choice I make to imitate Jesus is difficult for me and the enemy is swift to bring a myriad of reasons to mind why I could and should quit rather than sacrifice. I am learning, however slowly, that pouring out the love and passion of Jesus Christ is always just plain better. The funny thing, and the reason it matters so much, is that it's not just better for me. In fact it is always first obedience, then the hope of glory to the recipient, and finally God's favor poured out upon me once I reach the pinnacle.
We serve a dynamic, awesome, amazing God!
"This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us." (1 John 4:10-12 NIV)
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