Radical Love

I want to live my life radically changed, for the rest of my life. I want to live the rest of my life serving others and making sure that they can catch even just a small glimpse of who Christ is.

Bible study was awesome last night. Learning and reading about Paul in Acts and the early church is so encouraging and such a good example of what it means to truly follow Christ. Paul amazes me sometimes.

But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaed the crowds they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. But when the disciples gathered about him he rose up and entered the city, and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe.
-Acts 15:19-20

This amazes me. After being stoned almost to death, I know for a fact that going back into the city would not be my first reaction. What is so incredible about all of this, is that it displays God's love so perfectly. Paul's heart truly broke for these people, because He wanted them to know the truth and experience the love of his father in the same ways that he did. This radical love is what I want. I want my heart to break more for the people around me. As I sit here in a coffee shop, I watch the people come in to buy their "teddy bears" or "carmel mochas" before they go to class. Then they leave. Some have probably never thought about what they're going to class for - what they're working so hard for. Others are searching for the answers to life's questions. Some just need to hear that everything is going to be okay... that everything is in control and there is a God that loves them so much. He's a loving Father that wants to take all burdens and cary them upon His shoulders. And all it takes is for someone ordinary - a ragamuffin like myself to tell them.

So what holds me back? What holds me back from proclaiming the only thing I know true? Why am I apprehensive to sharing the love of Christ with the ones I hold close - with the ones I love so much?

Noel explained it so well on Saturday. I need to be able to coexist with those around me, and I need to be able to love them enough to want to share the Gospel. So often it is spread and proclaimed for ears to hear, but in such a way that is hurtful and unloving. It's a wondery why so many people are turned off to christians, and turned off to the Gospel...the Gospel of Grace. I need to be more loving so that it is evident that Christ's love abounds in grace, and not as a persecution. I need to be more loving so that His love is radiant, and so that it would naturally flow from my lips.

Something struck me at curch on Sunday. He painted the picture of Lazarus and the rich man in the book of Luke. If a close friend died and could see what lied ahead without Christ, there would be no question - this person would want me to tell them about Christ. When I put it into perspective, an awkward conversation or chance of altering a friendship doesn't seem to even matter. If I truly loved, nothing would hold me back. If I really treasured the Gospel and treasured my Jesus, then this would be overflowing from me, and more would hear the Good News - the Gospel of Grace which is the greatest Love Story that was, and ever will be.

Abba, break my heart. Break my heart so that I am quick to love. Overwhelm me with your spirit so that I am filled up with your love, so that I can show this love to others. Yahweh, teach me, so that I can walk in your ways, so I can walk in your footsteps all the days of my life.