Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Loving Others...


One of the books I've been reading is called "Being a Girl Who Loves" by Shannon Kubiak Primicerio. This book has been very thought provoking for me personally. Today I was reading a chapter entitled "Every Hour of Every Day." The author described how challenging it is to continue in love, since "if you are anything like me, your attitudes of self-sacrifice and service are short-lived (pg 88)." She compares our "supply" of love to a car's fuel tank, and throughout this chapter, she talks about the need to go to Christ to refuel when our love has run dry. Below is a section which I found helpful.

Look at how John describes himself in John 21:20: "Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them; the one who also had leaned back on His breast at the supper, and said, 'Lord, who is the one who betrays you?'"
Verse 24 confirms that John is talking about himself here. But think about that for a moment. Instead of simply saying, "Peter turned and saw me" or "Peter turned and saw John," it says Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved, the one who had leaned on Jesus' breast. John was known as the disciple who loved....It was common for John to operate on a full love tank. After all, he was the "beloved disciple."
In 1 John 4:7-8 he tells us: "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born on God and knows God." He's also the one who told us in John 3:16 that "God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life."
...John was a disciple who loved because he knew how much he was loved. Early on--commentators and theologians say when he was just a teenager, not older than fifteen or sixteen--John learned the art of leaning back on Jesus' breast. He learned the art of intimacy with Christ, always going straight to the Lord to fill his love tank. And when people asked him who he was, he answered, "I'm the disciple Jesus loves."
Knowing that--and basking in it--kept John's love tank full. And with a full love tank he was able to love others more effectively. Those who know how much they are loved love much. Do you know how much you are loved?


This was a challenge to me personally; too many times, I grow lazy in loving others. Sometimes I just don't try because it's too hard. Sometimes I rely on my own strength...and I KNOW that doesn't work! But if I choose to focus on how Christ loved/loves me, this will motivate me to respond in love, even when my natural reaction is to respond in irritation or frustration.


SEEK HIS FACE WITH ME!
LOVE~BRIANNA


5 comments:

delaney said...

Those were awesome verses! I love your little icon! Have a great rest of the week!

Love and prayers,
Laney

Jordan Bethany said...

Hey Brianna,

That was a great post! That book sounds really good. I am reading one of Elizabeth George's books right now, but I will have to look into that one when I am done!

Thanks for the comment you left on my blog. God bless you!

Love,
Christine

Meshaay said...

I want to go and think about His love for me right now...It's really something I have to learn to rest in.

Julia said...

Hi Brianna! This was a wonderful post...and I didn't know John was probably that young! Hey, I found a great idea on Laney's blog...Word-filled Wednesdays! I put one on my blog if you want to check it out. And by the way, how did you get the sweet picture at the top that matches your header?
Julia

LisaShaw said...

Greetings Brianna,

I just visited your blog for the first time today. You're a special young lady -- keep writing in honor of the Lord. I will have to purchase this book for my 15 yr old daughter. I also forwarded your website to her. God bless you.

Mrs. Shaw