You Shall Love

Alright.

While reading the bit on love I pondered on some things that in my busyness I have forgotten. For those of you who don't know I have just recently quit my job as a resident Intern at the International Ministry Center and moved back to my home in Lucedale, Mississippi. It is about a 45 minute to an hour commute every day. I am barely moved in, I still have stuff everywhere, and I am stressed out beyond comprehension. Moving back home is something I never thought I would do and any of you who know my situation would think the same thing. With this stress comes many different emotions and it all ties into what I received from Mr. K tonight. Coming home is hard because my family leads a very different lifestyle than me. Bouncing back and forth this year as a commuter is hard because I am missing different things and situations. I have lots of people I know on campus, but I know hardly any of the newer students. This, as you can imagine can bring forth lots of different emotions. Lets wind this down a little.
You shall love.
It is our greatest commandment and something I have learned to embrace and something I am still learning to embrace fully.
You shall love.
I want to focus more seriously on the "love your neighbor" part.
I took this very literally to mean "be a friend" Look at the people around them and be their friend. Not because it benefits you. Just love them. For me, family love is rough. But the love of a friend is where I can find rest. Once we are able to find contentment in that great love that is the love of Abba, we are allowed to and by nature want to rest in the love of someone else. I believe friendship is of even more importance than romantic relationship. After all, one cannot have a romantic relationship that is worth a hill of beans if you have not at first pursued friendship with him or her. In other words, earthly companionship has it's foundations in friendship. In addition to these things, we cannot stretch ourselves thin. I think it is foolish to have many, many, friends at the expense of having not one close friend. But that makes us feel insecure. We think we need to have lots of friends and be kinda known by lots of people and pour a little into this person and this person and this person..... it is a lie! To truly love your neighbor you must invest into them. To truly make a difference in someone's life you must completely pour EVERYTHING. If you are spread out between many you are not pouring yourself out to anyone... you are only putting drops in their mouths... And a drop wont satisfy a thirsty soul. An injustice! Jesus invested in only a few when he was in the flesh because he knew his effect on them would be weaker if it was 40 and not 12. Do you understand?
The sweetest things to me is to just have a friend.
One friend is many, two are a blessing, and three are nearly impossible. Maybe one of those sweet friends will be in a romantic relationship, but don't be so shallow as to think that those are the only relationships worth fighting for. Seek out someone vulnerable who may not always delight you, but needs you. A beautiful season of growth can occur if we would only sharpen each other as our Lord so desires. Let us do so without personal agendas. Let this be a challenge to all who read to be that refuge, to be that representation of Christ to someone here. If it is pure, it will only lead each of you closer to Him.

“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel:
The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart
and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The
second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment
greater than these.” Mark 12: 29:31

You shall love.




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