Love truly is a choice and one worth making.
I still remember the day the Lord told me to be a living sacrifice. I wasn’t happy about it. From the time I became a young adult, my goal was to leave my parent’s home and create a life for myself. Do what I want, when I want, and how I want.
Then, I became a Christian and had a child myself. The Lord wanted me to sacrifice many things for his sake, so I followed the Lord in obedience out of love for my son. Honestly, I did not do it well. I definitely did not do it with joy. In fact, I wanted to quit many, many times because the path was so hard.
Today, as I reflect back on this life, I feel bittersweet. I truly don’t know if I would make the same choices again. I ask myself if it was all worth it.
In a sermon that was preached at our church recently, the speaker said that the measure of a great Christian and our faith is the measure of our fruitfulness. He went on to say that to be fruitful is to be a contagious Christian whose spiritual life is multiplied in others.
I know what He has done in me, in bringing forth my fruit, but is that enough?
I’m reminded that in Hebrews 11, which lists those who lived by faith, it says in verse 13 that “These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.”
And, in verses 39-40: “And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.”
His plan is better than what we can see in our lifetime.
So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13:13
The call to love sacrificially is a rewarding one because love is what lasts.
Show up, friend, and be used.
Serve up love generously while being filled by our gracious God.
Surrender it all at His feet as an offering and let Him use it as He wills.
Do so with joy, by His strength; rejoicing in the promise that His plans are good.
Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
2 Corinthians 9:7
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🎶 This Is How I Thank The Lord ~ Simply Worship
All of my affection
Everything I have to give
The sum of my attention
Is measured in the praise I lift
So this is how I thank the Lord for saving me
When I was weak
So I will sing
This is how I thank the Lord for everything
Yeah, this is how I thank the Lord for loving me
And keeping me
So I will sing
This is how I thank the Lord for everything
This is how I thank the Lord
Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!
1 Chronicles 16:34
