[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”3.0.47″][et_pb_fullwidth_header title=”Lifestyle of Love” subhead=”June 15, 2018 | Lifestyle” background_layout=”dark” background_overlay_color=”rgba(38,38,38,0.32)” _builder_version=”3.0.92″ background_image=”https://truestoryproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/lifestyle-of-love.jpg” custom_padding=”200px||200px|” text_orientation=”left” header_fullscreen=”off” header_scroll_down=”off” image_orientation=”center” content_orientation=”center” custom_button_two=”off” button_two_icon_placement=”right” custom_button_one=”off” button_one_icon_placement=”right” /][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.0.47″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.0.92″ background_layout=”light” custom_padding=”||1px|”]
[dropcap]H[/dropcap]ow do we actually live a life that is full of love?
I guess a good place to start is to define what ‘love’ is. As a Christian, the way we’re often told to understand love is found in:
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“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres . . .”
1 Corinthians 13
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Isn’t it interesting that all that is outlined in the Paul’s long description of ‘love’ 1 Corinthians 13 matches up with Jesus’ life and actions? This is something I know from my own experience! He’s been more patient, more kind, more hopeful, more bearing of my flaws, more enduring of my rambling prayers and times of wandering than anyone else. I know for a fact that this is not going to change any time soon.
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Recently, I’ve been faced with some pretty big decisions about my future. Fear of not choosing the ‘right thing’ has almost been crippling, but God has been bringing to my attention one word that has been appearing everywhere, sacrifice. It’s not a pleasant word by today’s standards; it implies doing things you’d rather not do – maybe going outside of your comfort zone, giving up things you really wanted, and letting go of things you’d much rather keep. One look at the life and works of Jesus though, and all I can see is sacrifice. I think about His example and the whole idea that ‘if you’re not comfortable you’re in the wrong place,’ is completely challenged. I’ve come to realise that my life is, as the song says, is, “not my own, it all belongs to You.”
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Perhaps a helpful way to understand my thought-process can be found in Romans 12:5: “So in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.” My decisions don’t just affect me, but I have to consider how they will impact those around me in a way that communicates love. The decisions made by Jesus where never for His own comfort; he didn’t live a life of self-preservation. The love that he showed has never and will never be equalled – if I want even a small piece of that kind of lifestyle, I have to be willing to make sacrifices. Knowing that every day the breath in my lungs is from God, gives a little bit of perspective.
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Society is obsessed with the prioritisation of ‘self.’ I want to disagree with this entire ethos. If our definition of what we truly deserve aligned more with Scripture, I’m convinced our perspective of what we are entitled to would diminish, and one by one we would consider each other “better than ourselves” (Philippians 2:3). Once we have our eyes fixed outside of ourselves, we would be able to live out a genuine life of love towards others.
Living a lifestyle of love doesn’t mean simple tolerance. It doesn’t mean just being nice to people. Love is the nitty gritty, putting self second, demonstrating Jesus to everyone, regardless of how you feel. I know for me, that’s something I aspire to do every single day — a habit, built up from discipline and motivated by what we’ve received.
Bottom line: it is because of love that we exist and love can define our entire lifestyle.
“We love because he first loved us.” – 1 John 4:19
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