Put On Love
How quickly we forget to look in the mirror with our new getup. We accidentally, in our sinful nature, put on the things of this world and put off the things of God.
Here’s where we have been in our “Put On” series. We’ve done the hard work of throwing off our triggers, wearing our new nature in Christ, and powering up with the armor of God.
Yet, we see our disappointments staring back at us in the mirror. Our reflection triggers the lies, that regardless of our good intentions, we missed the mark.
The weight that gradually added up.
The exhaustion from sleepless nights.
The hardship that comes with living in a fallen world.
We put all of this weight on, failing to remember, God first loved us (1 John 4:19 NIV).
Whether you are an expert of medical television shows or exposed yourself to some version of healthcare, the first step a medical staff member takes is putting on love. In love, they protect their patient by putting on new gear. Can you imagine, if they wore the same gown or gloves from patient to patient, surgery to surgery?
We love out of an overflow of receiving the love of Christ.
Friend, are you dressing yourself in love? We won’t get this perfect. We are far from “perfect love.” We are going to screw up by shaming ourselves. We will mistakenly desire the world more than God. We will forget the unmet measure of God’s forgiveness for our sins neglecting to forgive a treasured loved one or even a stranger. We are going to screw up showing compassion to someone because we make it a chore. We are going to mess up the greatest commandments of all: to love God and love our neighbor as we love ourselves.
Let’s get to work–loving God, loving ourselves, and loving others.
Possibly, God is calling you to switch the uniform you are putting on every day. Maybe the work is growing bolder in this love. Speaking affirmation over yourself. Creating a new chapter after loss and choosing the love of God over being angry at God. Perhaps, you want to get nearer to God in embracing His love for you for the very first time. Maybe you are like me and you simply want to rest in His love that never fails or disappoints.
One of my favorite authors Lysa Terkeurst puts love this way in her book Uninvited, “Live loved.”
When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known” (1 COR 13:11-12 NIV).
We are fully known by the God of love. In our new nature, displayed in the mirror, we get to see ourselves as His image bearers. Then, on that heavenly day, we get to fully know God, seeing Him face to face.
Join me in embracing the everyday gold He puts on display for us to see Him more clearly. You are God’s treasure.
