Love.

As Jesus and his disciples came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed. Mary has chosen what is better,
it will not be taken from her.”
– Luke 10:38-42

Love.  How do we show it?  How do we experience it?  How do we know we are loved? For Martha, showing her love for God meant acts of service.  But when her sister wouldn’t help her, she became bitter, angry and resentful.  For Mary, love meant spending quality time with Jesus.  Just being at his feet and learning from him was her act of love.

We all have different love languages.  Some people really enjoy giving and receiving gifts.  Others know they are loved through physical contact.  Still others need to hear the words spoken.  We all have different ways of loving others as well as loving God.  When Jesus told the disciples how he would know they were his children, it was through their actions – feeding the hungry, visiting the sick and imprisoned, clothing the naked.  Our words, our time, our actions, our gifts, our contact with others can all be avenues of showing love to others.  They are also opportunities for us to live out our love for God.  The world will know we are Christians by our love.

Our attitude of service and love is the most important part of any effort to love God and love others.  If we are resentful and bitter, our gift isn’t worth much.  When we come with our heart, no matter how small an act, a word, a gift may be, whatever is done in love with sincere hearts brings glory to God.  It is as a fragrant offering to our Lord, rising up to heaven.  We love because God first loved us, John wrote in his epistle.  Because we know we are loved, forgiven, and freed, we are empowered to love others.  Let’s love each other well, and in so doing, love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength.

Questions for the week:  Have I cheated or lied? Have I sought to protect my reputation at someone else’s expense?  Do I practice mercy and compassion, or do I hold people to an unreasonably high standard?

Holy God, you call us to change our hearts and lives, to return to you. So often we like the way things are, and we aren’t sure what changing our way and following you would mean. You promise new life for all, but sometimes we decide who is good and who is bad, closing off your love for ourselves and others.  You call us to seek your heart, to allow ourselves to be born anew in your Spirit. So often we live in the literal meaning of your words, rather than letting the spirit of your word live in us.  Come and dwell within us, and transform us from the inside out. Amen