The first time that I ever prayed on my own, outside of a church situation, was back in 1983. My mom's uncle had just suffered a heart attack and was in the hospital. I was in my bedroom listening to the radio. I don't remember what else I was doing in there (maybe reading), but I was lying on the floor and thought it would be a good idea to pray.
I don't remember the specifics to my prayer, other than for him to recover. I distinctly remember two songs played on the radio 104.1 FM. (Funny that I remember such specifics thirty years later). They were "Total Eclipse of the Heart" by Bonnie Tyler and "Who Loves You" by Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. Listen to them, they're good songs. So, there I was praying on my own for the first time. My mom's uncle would pass away within the next 24 hours. Thus, began my walk with the Lord which has had ups and downs and taken me on incredible journeys.
There is an incredible need in us to feel loved. We know what it feels like. Some of us are even good enough to differentiate between those who love us sincerely and those putting up a good act. There are various interpretations as to what love is. Is it a feeling? That nice warm feeling one gets when they are being loved by someone? Or, is it deeper than that? How much love does one need? Having that one person love you? Or, is it more important o be loved by many?
People pursue love in different ways. Some look for it in the physical sense. They feel loved when they are physically intimate with another person or many people. Maybe it's having millions of people follow you or adore you and your ideas. Almost bordering on worship. We see a lot of that in our celebrity culture. Millions of people hanging on the words and activities of a stranger just because they are famous. That works in dictatorships - striving to be loved by millions and brooking no opposition (which is a sense of not being loved for your thoughts and ideas).
There is a lot of talk about love in the Bible. God so loved the world that he gave His only Son. Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. A new commandment I give to you; that you love one another just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. Love your enemies. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
"Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth" 1 John 3:18.
This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to love in the Bible. You don't get very far in the Bible without coming across a verse or two regarding love. It truly permeates the message of the entire Bible. The story of God is one of love.
God is love. It is who He is and why He does what He does. He shows it in the blessings He provides us, the biggest of which was His Son. A Son who loved us so much that He took the burden and punishment for our sins, so that we could be free. That love continues with His Holy Spirit provided to help us.
Because of who He is, He calls His followers to love in much the same way. Called to an active love, shown not just in words, but in action and deed. A love that is not reciprocated at times. We are called to love others who may not love us back. A love which can be considered sacrificial. Giving up our own resources to love others. Financially, our time, our skills we can give up. The kind of love that flies in the face of what we have ben taught in this world. It's easy to love those who love us back. It's easier to say words of love rather than actions of love. It is easier to love when we do not have to sacrifice. Sometimes, God calls us to love differently than the world does (OK more than sometimes)
The world's version of love tends to be self-centered. To gain love from others to fulfill ourselves. It is not a love that will sustain us. It will always, inevitably, wear out. We can only be sustained by the love of God. That is the standard and model we need to pursue in loving those around us. We will fall short at times, but that needs to be the model we follow.
"We love because He first loved us" 1 John 4:19.
I don't remember the specifics to my prayer, other than for him to recover. I distinctly remember two songs played on the radio 104.1 FM. (Funny that I remember such specifics thirty years later). They were "Total Eclipse of the Heart" by Bonnie Tyler and "Who Loves You" by Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. Listen to them, they're good songs. So, there I was praying on my own for the first time. My mom's uncle would pass away within the next 24 hours. Thus, began my walk with the Lord which has had ups and downs and taken me on incredible journeys.
There is an incredible need in us to feel loved. We know what it feels like. Some of us are even good enough to differentiate between those who love us sincerely and those putting up a good act. There are various interpretations as to what love is. Is it a feeling? That nice warm feeling one gets when they are being loved by someone? Or, is it deeper than that? How much love does one need? Having that one person love you? Or, is it more important o be loved by many?
People pursue love in different ways. Some look for it in the physical sense. They feel loved when they are physically intimate with another person or many people. Maybe it's having millions of people follow you or adore you and your ideas. Almost bordering on worship. We see a lot of that in our celebrity culture. Millions of people hanging on the words and activities of a stranger just because they are famous. That works in dictatorships - striving to be loved by millions and brooking no opposition (which is a sense of not being loved for your thoughts and ideas).
There is a lot of talk about love in the Bible. God so loved the world that he gave His only Son. Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. A new commandment I give to you; that you love one another just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. Love your enemies. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
"Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth" 1 John 3:18.
This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to love in the Bible. You don't get very far in the Bible without coming across a verse or two regarding love. It truly permeates the message of the entire Bible. The story of God is one of love.
God is love. It is who He is and why He does what He does. He shows it in the blessings He provides us, the biggest of which was His Son. A Son who loved us so much that He took the burden and punishment for our sins, so that we could be free. That love continues with His Holy Spirit provided to help us.
Because of who He is, He calls His followers to love in much the same way. Called to an active love, shown not just in words, but in action and deed. A love that is not reciprocated at times. We are called to love others who may not love us back. A love which can be considered sacrificial. Giving up our own resources to love others. Financially, our time, our skills we can give up. The kind of love that flies in the face of what we have ben taught in this world. It's easy to love those who love us back. It's easier to say words of love rather than actions of love. It is easier to love when we do not have to sacrifice. Sometimes, God calls us to love differently than the world does (OK more than sometimes)
The world's version of love tends to be self-centered. To gain love from others to fulfill ourselves. It is not a love that will sustain us. It will always, inevitably, wear out. We can only be sustained by the love of God. That is the standard and model we need to pursue in loving those around us. We will fall short at times, but that needs to be the model we follow.
"We love because He first loved us" 1 John 4:19.
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