Love Big Love Well
What does “love big and love well” look like in this season of life?
In just one week, Melbourne has experienced alarming series of events such as riots, anti-lockdown protests and an earthquake. Little to say that there is a lot going on, on this side of planet earth; which could leave one to feel alarmed, shocked, unsettled and even scared for the future. Division roams in our streets, our conversations and our minds.
“But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.”- 1 John 4:8
I cannot think of a better time to promote, what loving big and loving well means; as the world is in desperate need of love. Love is the only way. Our beloved city and its people are hurting, angry and frustrated from the extensive lockdowns. Hope, Unity, Compassion and Kindness should be at the centre of our hearts and our conversations instead of division and hatred.
Loving big and loving well in this season, is putting one’s pride and self-reliance aside. Winning an argument or getting one’s point across will create divisions. Everyone has an opinion on how to run the country, how to fix the pandemic and whether or not one should take the vaccine.
But at the end of the day isn’t God sovereign over it all? What is it worth to lose a brother or a sister over futile arguments and opinions?
God is the giver of all wisdom and he is love. We are called to love one another, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.” it is said in John 13:34 -35. Love is our trademark.
Having a well-disciplined mouth, seasoned with words of grace, kindness and hope should be our primary goal.
We can love big and love well through actions on a more practical level. Loving one another is not just wishful thinking, but love is best demonstrated through actions. Actions speak louder than words.
We can do so through little things:
Taking care of ourselves first before offering to take care of others. Making sure our love tank is full before we can love others. We cannot love unless we also have experienced love.
Loving our spouse/family/friends as Christ would. “Asking ourselves the question, is what I am about to say kind and loving?” Would Jesus dare to say that?” Confronting wrong behaviours that are detrimental to the health of our loved ones is also a form of love. We cannot be passive towards bad behaviours and attitudes. If Christ was able to confront the Pharisees, we should also have the courage to do so when it is needed.
Encouraging empathy in our circles of influence. Telling others, I don’t fully understand what you are going through at the moment but I will be with you while you process your emotions and journey through this difficult time.
Promoting unity instead of getting our point across.
Making time for the things that matter being intentional.
Showing generosity and kindness to those around us.
Listening attentively to others and being present.
Having wisdom and a well-seasoned mouth.
Encouraging one another when we fall short.
Extending grace to those who are struggling.
Meeting people where they are at.
My beloved friends, let us continue to love each other since love comes from God. Everyone who loves is born of God and experiences a relationship with God. The person who refuses to love doesn’t know the first thing about God, because God is love—so you can’t know him if you don’t love. This is how God showed his love for us: God sent his only Son into the world so we might live through him. This is the kind of love we are talking about—not that we once upon a time loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to clear away our sins and the damage they’ve done to our relationship with God. 1 John 4:8 MSG