Recently, I received a text message from a friend asking about the Christian life. I read the text several times over with excitement, yes, but with anxiety too. Undoubtedly, it was an answer to over a decade of prayer, a small crack for the light to shine through. But the weight of this opportunity to share my faith in Jesus was also overwhelming.
I think the apostle John would understand both my passion and my pause. Every word he writes drips with longing for people to know the truth: that Jesus is the Son of God, the way to salvation. I long for my friend to know the truth too. But sharing the gospel is on a different level than convincing someone to reduce their gluten intake; it’s a matter of spiritual life and death.
Many churches utilize the personal testimonies of believers as a way to help others see the hand of the One they cannot see. We encourage each other with stories of how God has worked in our lives, how He’s freed us, and how we’ve come to know He is real.
I love testimonies, but sometimes I wrongly believe my own testimony needs to convince people of God rather than simply tell them about what He’s done in my life. I automatically begin thinking about what I should and shouldn’t say, strategizing in my own strength instead of relying on God’s power to help me. No wonder I feel anxious at the mere thought of sharing the gospel.
John rightly points us beyond his own testimony and on to God’s, which is far greater (1John 5:9). You and I aren’t the only ones testifying that Jesus is King; the Creator of the universe and everything He’s created declare the truth too (Psalm 19:1). God Himself declares the truth of Christ:
Through the Spirit, the water, and the blood (1John 5:7–8).
Through prophecies and power (Matthew 1:18–24).
Through the baptism of Christ Jesus (Matthew 3:16–17).
Through Christ’s perfect sacrificial death (Matthew 26:28).
“The one who loves God must also love his brother and sister,” in both word and deed (1John 4:21). When friends and family ask us where our hope comes from, we can let go of the pressure to find the perfect words or our need to convince them of the truth of the gospel of Christ. As God’s daughters, it is not just our testimony that matters. We are also bearing witness to God’s testimony—one that never fails. “And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. The one who has the Son has life. The one who does not have the Son of God does not have life” (John 5:11–12).
If I…
say all the right things, but don’t live them – I am “noise.”
If I…
have it all together, and make things happen, but only for me – I am worth nothing.
If I…
sacrifice stuff and strength for the sake of sacrifice, but not with Love’s heart – I spend all, to gain nothing.
Love is patient, when patience is spent.
Love is kind to the core.
Love, by the act of shear love, lays down self-thoughts, self-words, and self-actions; period.
Love’s shoulders are broad to carry heavy loads,
Love’s heart is faith-full and hope-full.
Love takes the next step, and the next step, one step. at a time. as needed.
Love is infinite.
Prophecy, words, knowledge…has limits, and end.
Living-Love is a journey, a journey of growth, a journey of reflection.
But, one day, I will see Pure Love face to face.
One day, I will know Pure Love fully, as I am fully known by Pure Love.
For God is Love.
What remains? Faith. Hope. and Love.
The greatest of these Love.
Father, You are Love. It is not that You love…You are by very definition, Love. My brain struggles at times to understand, but I know, that I know, that I know, at my core…Love is God. You spoke to my heart through Your Love chapter this morning. Awed by the evidence of Your Love throughout all time past. Awed by the journey of Your Love throughout my life. Not always a love of flowers, rainbows and sunshine, although that love was/is there also. Sometimes Your great Love brought discipline or teaching. Always Your Love brought what was and is best. That Love takes me into today, and tomorrow, and every moment of your plan until…one day…yes Lord, one day, in Your presence, in the presence of Love I will bow. I imagine You touching my face and lifting it to rise and see Your eyes. Eyes that welcome me HOME. Not because of anything I have done or been but because I was lost and Love found me. Love forgave me. Love covers me. And, in Love, I am clean. Until that day Lord, may I yield to You, in obedience, in growing love. Yours. Amen.
Beautifully written. Amen!
Wow… so beautiful and touching. Thank you Angie!
How to love others is a question often asked but perhaps we should ask how do I love others in the best way possible for them? The answer is very individual and there’s a lot of factors to consider, such as what can I give and what will they receive? Believe it or not, setting boundaries is one such gift. Yes I say gift because there are indeed bullies out there. They need the loving gift of boundaries. There have been folks (some family members) who’ve come across my path with whom I’ve showed Jesus in word and deed. I truly did my best to meet needs and speak kindly, suggesting Jesus, being sensitive to the timing of the Holy Spirit. They were however hostile and occasionally belligerent. And rude. I did not walk away. I did not disrespect them. But I did call them to a higher standard of behavior and language. Just as when a young child throws a tantrum and you walk away, they lose their audience and come looking for you. So that same boundary often succeeds with some adults. I welcome them cheerfully when I see then. I pray for them and I speak of Jesus in their presence as I naturally would. I take an interest in their life. But the boundaries remain firm. I often found that when I’ve done so, they often tell me that they then realized I took Jesus seriously, that what I was sharing was worth their attention, their listening instead of arguing or ridiculing. We then could have conversations and dialogue over their questions, their objections. Often brief at the beginning but longer as time went by and they saw I was not relaxing my boundaries. So yes share the Jesus you know, show His love, but share Him in the way they will best receive. You can’t share and they can’t receive if there’s sarcasm and shouting, if there’s anger and accusation. Boundaries actually provide space for both to listen and understand the other. And in that atmosphere, enter Jesus.
❤️this !
Well said! Thank you for this! ❤️
❤
Such Love our Lord has for us. What is so lovely and what He reminds us is that he has this love for all of us. Thankful for you all sharing your stories. Tina, your stories of our Lord working on you when your heart says Enough resonates. Funny how we convince ourselves sometimes that we have limits. And then God reminds us of His limitless love and the Holy Spirit calls us to more of His love, which we see multiply as He not only pours it on us, but pours it out of us to others. O Holy God may we have eyes to see and your heart to love all those you give us. Thank you Jesus for immeasurable abundant sacrificial love that is unconditional for such a wretch as me. Hugs dear women. Peace and Amazing Grace to your soul.
Siblings may be easy to love, but they are sometimes the hardest to witness to about the love of Jesus. My baby brother recently turned 64, & is living without Jesus. And he bemoans his unhappy, difficult & fruitless life in every conversation. I’ve “said it all” over the years, & continue to love him regardless. He knows I’m praying for him. I know he won’t find peace & joy until he finds the Lord & lets Him into his heart. He has lots of head knowledge, but not the heart change that he so desperately needs. It’s so sad to watch. His name is David if you are inclined to pray for him.
Praying for David!
Have you ever done a discipleship bible study? You can do with anyone any age. The reader will see for themselves what the word of God says without needing us to. Read a verse and answer the questions: what does it say about God? What does it say about man? If this is true what should I do? Who should I tell?
Such a challenge to love others, but yet I know as others of you have written, that when I struggle with loving others it’s more about me than them because if my eyes are on Jesus and what He did and how He loves, I have no excuse.
I do not believe love means we have no boundaries. God has boundaries with us. He calls us to repentance. We can set boundaries in love — sometimes that is the most courageous and truly loving thing we can do.