Be A Love Machine

I desire to be a love machine. Wait … it’s a choice … I am a love machine. Are you a love machine?

This past week I have really spent a lot of time thinking about love. Not the romantic love but agape love. Now don’t tune me out. Hear me out. PLEASE!!

We live in culture in which we value ourselves more than anything. We think that we are the most important. Is that the way Christ lived? Aren’t we to be Christ followers (Christ Like)? STAY WITH ME.

In January I was put on meds for my blood pressure. (should have been on them 6 yrs ago but I had to much pride). Anyways, when I was put on blood pressure meds I made the decision to change my life. Change what I eat and how I live. I watch my sodium, cholesterol, and saturated fats now like never before. Literally, everything I eat has been “researched” by me. LOL I made that change after 29 years of eating anything and everything. It was killing me. I had to change and to be honest … it wasn’t hard because it was important to me. It should be just as important to walk in love with those around us every day. It may not be easy to change and to treat everyone with love (including our enemies) but we should do it no matter the cost.

The Word of God says

Mark 12:28-31 (The Message)
One of the religion scholars came up. Hearing the lively exchanges of question and answer and seeing how sharp Jesus was in his answers, he put in his question: “Which is most important of all the commandments?”

Jesus said, “The first in importance is, ‘Listen, Israel: The Lord your God is one; so love the Lord God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence and energy.’ And here is the second: ‘Love others as well as you love yourself.’ There is no other commandment that ranks with these.“

I am not telling you love everyone just because it’s a command from God (although that is huge) … I am wanting you to love everyone because it’s your ID … it’s what defines you as a Christian (Christ-like).

John 13:34-35 (The Message)
“Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other.”

I want to encourage you this week to take love to the next level. Go beyond … stretch further. I really believe that Matthew 5:43-48 sums up exactly what I am trying to say so I will end with it.

Matthew 5:43-48 (The Message)
“You’re familiar with the old written law, ‘Love your friend,’ and its unwritten companion, ‘Hate your enemy.’ I’m challenging that. I’m telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that.

“In a word, what I’m saying is, Grow up. You’re kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.”

I hope this post encourages you to take that next step. I believe that if you start showing love to everyone … including your enemies you will see and abundance of blessing come your way.