Lessons in Love

A verse that has encouraged me this week:

“We remember…Your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.” -1 Thessalonians 1:3

It is a good reminder to me of what my attitude should be as I’m serving here. Work, labor, and endurance--all produced, prompted, and inspired by FAITH, HOPE, & LOVE. And the greatest of these is love (1 Cor 13). Which is usually not a problem for me…I love love. But consider this verse:
“If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?” -Matthew 5:46-47

I long to love the unlovable. God doesn’t say, I will reward you for loving your best friend or bless you because you took care of your sister. Even non-believers do that! How does loving my friends and family show others Christ IN ME? It is easy to love those who love us back, who make us laugh, who treat us with respect, and who make us happy. But what do I do when it comes to loving someone who approaches me on the street, says “Give me your food,” and then walks away without even being grateful? I’m used to loving people who thank me, hug me, or who give back in return. Which makes my motives pretty apparent! “It is more blessed to give than to receive“ (Acts 20:35). Sounds good in theory, but when I’m faced with the choice of giving over receiving every single day here, it makes it tiring. I think about Mother Theresa often--don’t laugh, I know it’s cliché--and for the first time (even though I did a 20-page research paper on her in twelfth grade) I wish I could meet her and ask her about her life spent serving the poor, the sick, the dirty, and the people who, by the world’s standards, are unlovable. After all that research, I don’t even have a deep, though-provoking quote from her that I can throw at you…but Scripture sums it up well:

“People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” -1 Samuel 16:7

It is so easy to be held back by a person’s appearance--either because they look intimidating, because they smell, because they seem confused or incoherent, or because they’re carrying a bottle wrapped in a brown paper bag…All characteristics that most people would avoid and advise others to avoid, as well. But Christ looks past that--His own life is a living testimony to loving the unlovable. Tax collectors, prostitutes, the poor, the lame, the diseased, and so many more. He saw their heart, He saw who they were created to be, and He saw that despite the rough exterior, despite the veneer that had been polished by years of abuse, neglect, bad choices, and insults, they were still a child of God. I want to look at the people in Rehoboth not as who they appear to be but as who they were meant to be--who God created them to be. Each with a significant and incredible purpose to serve with the life they’ve been given. And when I think about walking around and talking with these people, about sharing with them about Christ and His plan for their life (Jeremiah 29:11--14), I am cautioned by this verse in James, chapter 2:

“Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead” (15-17).

It is good to share with them, to tell them about God’s love, but I also need to be a living example of God--I need to show others Christ IN ME. While Jesus was on earth, He provided for needs: clothed the naked, fed the hungry, healed the sick--He LOVED with both actions and words. So I need to do the same.

Prayer Requests:
*That I could continue to try to live as Jesus did…And that I would be striving to satisfy the One who sent me--not myself!

*For opportunities to talk with people as I walk to and from work each day…and that I would recognize them when they appear!

*Me, Lulu, and Stephen are hoping to start a Bible Study with our HS Youth Group at church--pray that we could figure out a time, place, and what to study--and that the youth would be excited to get involved

Praises:
*The Youth Group leader, Jerome, came back last night! We thought for the first few weeks that there was no leader, so it was a great surprise to meet him.

*A Peace Corp. volunteer, Beth, stopped in at the YC and asked if she could help us in our work there. She’s been in Rehoboth for about a year and a half already, so we’re excited for both the extra set of hands and also the knowledge of the town that she can bring.

Thank you for your continued prayers and encouragement. I miss home but in the sense of, oh it will be good when the time comes to go home, but right now, I am content to be where I’m at. I know a lot of that peace comes from prayer and God’s hand--so thank you for being a part of that.

Love,
Brittany