The world is largely made up of givers and takers. There are some in between but when we really examine ourselves we fall into one of the two former categories. Part of the question that faces us is whether or not God wants us to be this way. It's not that simple. In order to be saved we need to be takers. We don't deserve the grace and mercy of God. Yet, he lived among us, died for us and raised from the day so we too can be raised from the dead as well. Once our "taking" has been completed we are commanded by Scripture to be givers. Imagine that. Jesus said that we need to love others and to take care of the widow and orphan. He also told us that we are to go into the world and bring the Gospel to all. Giving away that which we received. It may seem complicated but hear me out. In order for us to give away the love of God, we must take that love from God in the first place. We don't deserve that love but are in the spot where we have to do so in order to give that love to others who are perishing. The whole basis of our existence is found in the first commandment of "Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, soul and mind." The second commandment is like unto the first saying: "Love your neighbor as you love yourself." Until we have the love of God, we have no love for self. Without love for self, we are unable to love others. If we are unable to love because we haven't received love, others aren't able to see the love of Jesus through you.
Christians are able to do more than what we do and yet, don't. Why is that? When we have very little if the love of God in us, we aren't able to love ourselves like Jesus loves us. Thus we are only able to love others little. Like babies we grow and replace the things of the world for the things of God. Be that attitudes, beliefs, or ambitions. As we draw near to God the things of the world grow distant...at least for some. Some decide to keep that one foot in the world where death, hate and evil ruin lives. Just a little bit of Jesus is good. But what we want to be able to have is all of the love of God. Just where do we put this love of God when our vessel is full of the world and there is no room for that love? We need to be more like Jesus and less like the world. In this way, the world can see what and whom we love and recognize the change Jesus brings into our lives. In Matthew 6:33 Jesus says that we need to be perfect even as our Father in Heaven is perfect. There is only one way to accomplish this...we must die to self. When we are full of God there is nothing left of us. When we are full of the world, there is no love of God to be found. If you were to be arrested and sentenced to die for your faith; would there be enough evidence to find you guilty and executed for your faith? If you can't answer "Yes." you need to reassess the status of your life in Christ.
It's not a life of works we will be judged by but rather the love of God found in us that will be the standard by which we are judged. Believing is good. Doing is good. Being is good. Dying to self and God living through us is great! I don't want people to know that I claim to be Christian. I want people to see in my life the love of God and KNOW that I am a Christian. The demons are fearful of anyone who has Jesus in their lives. Satan is furious if the love of God is reflected to the world because it resides in you and I. Because this is a war where Satan is trying to keep as many as possible from knowing the love of God, God sends you and I to the people within our realm of influence to be the love of God to others. Your life given from God is essential for the salvation of the world. Your being set apart isn't for you and I to sit on our butts and go about as a business as normal choice. Christians need to do more to be a reflection of Jesus. But then you already knew this. All that is left is for you to determine to have nothing in you that reflects a love of the world and to be fully filled with the Love of God. Remember, it's always your choice.
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