Love speaks not preaching
Someone once asked, “What’s the big deal about preaching?” They answered, “It’s the vehicle, the instrument, the means by which GOD the Spirit brings… faith.” Of course, “Preaching” has power because the Word has power. And you can grow immensely spiritually when you need to preach regularly. Not only that, our lifestyles and what we say also “preach.” (before i get misunderstood, preaching is absolutely necessary for spiritual growth and it must be done for the Kingdom!)
But, talking to many people and capturing their sentiments, and also of myself, I’m realizing that you could preach the Word with skill and even with substance and have great spiritual power but lack loving power. You can talk a lot about what is right and wrong but still have no clue about how to express love. You can have positions and be old(er) but still can’t be humble enough to give a care about how someone else is really doing. You can even be mightily used by God but be a mighty failure when it comes to showing that you understand others. I’ve talked to so many young people as they vent and lament about how their dad who is a pastor can’t even love, some are illegitimate but often most are right. You can be great on the pulpit and public but bad with love personally. I don’t know how many kids have shared stories of these super holy dads that just aren’t that way at home. Yes, I know the “right” things to tell them that are biblical and helpful (i.e. dual nature, total depravity, we are ALL human and sinful, showing grace…) but it often leaves me thinking, what is going on?!
Why doesn’t the pulpit and preaching and public ministry transfer to the private and personal?
Why is there such a huge distinction?
Why do you hear horrible stories of pastors mistreating their staff and showing no love?
Why are there husbands who are so great at preaching but so mediocre with their wife and family?
Have we forgotten that more than the act of preaching, Love speaks louder?
Have we forgotten that the eloquence and execution of preaching pales in comparison to preaching that comes from a life of love… not perfect love but a love that is humble and progressing.
…
Honestly, I can’t judge nor be critical of other people but this is the one thing that gets me depressed about myself. And this dichotomy is something many young adults and young people often wonder about. And I guess i could sit here and point fingers but I can’t get past the 3 fingers that point right back on me. This is the reason for my failure attitude. I hate myself for doing the very thing I hate seeing in others. I might be “trained” to do amazing Kingdom work but if love does not resonate in me, who cares? I could lead a ministry and there could even be spiritual fruit, but if I can’t even express and really show love for those i work with, i’m a false prophet. If I hear people saying, “I like his ministry but don’t like him,” that’s a problem. It’s my problem.
I don’t want to become that kind of person.
I don’t want to become someone who does things well but can’t even love the way people need to be loved.
I don’t want to be fake.
Ministry skills are definitely necessary but LOVE… love speaks louder. And love earns the right to speak. love transcends even the messiest explanation of the Gospel and the Bible.
2010… allow me to be different. please.
Pride is the Love killer
“You can lose your pride to the one you love, rather than lose the one you love because of pride.”
As I’m thinking about going home soon, I know I must lose myself and give myself fully in love. Parents are getting older, I’m getting older, I can’t waste any time.
As I think about future relationships and friendships, pride is really the difference maker. Sometimes, I just get so caught up in protecting myself and wanting everything to go my way that I’ve stopped putting my heart out there. It’s funny, in college, my SG leaders would always compliment that characteristic in me- “Sean, you always put your heart out there for people to see and/or trample…” I think it got trampled on too many times that I’ve decided to keep it hidden. lol. fail.
But the plus side is that the more I am IN GOD, I just wanna show Him my heart and I am not so damaged when people trample it because as long as GOD knows… that’s all that matters. GOD is so good these days… I am so thankful.
Pride is definitely the love killer… whether it is with GOD or people.
This is one of the best scenes to show this:
Dude, they had a THROW DOWN… all because of pride. haha
BKs…
you could have an amazing time with GOD but literally seconds later, Blessing Killers can come and destroy everything…
argh.
Become a Blessing Keeper!
True love has no regrets
“I would much rather have regrets about not doing what people said, than regretting not doing what my heart led me to and wondering what life had been like if I’d just been myself.”
For some reason, the last few years has been wrought with regrets. Don’t get me wrong, I am actually thankful for everything that is going on right now in my life. So, I think it’s a combination of getting older and also the attempt to grasp the unique and grand Call of God for myself. Being surrounded in a campus setting and trying to find myself (over again) as a young adult, I think many people don’t understand all the craziness that goes on in our minds. Before it used to be, “you are too young to date/court!” But now, it’s, “DATE! COURT! what are you waiting for?!” And so, I often ask the question, “Dude… when did time fly by so fast?!” I tell you, this is mind boggling. BAMM! and then your 30.
I am still trying to figure out this quarter life crisis or just Life’s crisis of finding who you are. And with it will come regrets because after all, I must make certain choices. But one thing that is real is that there are decisions you make that you will never regret. [Go! Good Will Hunting] And it is True Love.
True Love has no regrets.
It will never leave you regretting. It will always give you that spark… even when you are completely dead and dry. And isn’t this what this generation is really looking for. I think we live in a culture that is so jaded, so guarded… so to ourselves.
“It only takes a spark to get a fire going…” Sparks only come when two sources are forced together. We are, I am, afraid of that collision.
Something just hit me while watching random clips of good will hunting. When you have True Love, you will never regret life with all its flaws and joys.
Yes, I’ve had many regrets in the past years but I’m realizing that if I had a True Love for Jesus all these years, it doesn’t matter what kind of choices I’ve made, because Jesus will help me to see the purpose in the folly and in the facts of life. But you know, truth be told, I am one of those that are scared of true love. Does it really exist? Is it possible? The only True Love I can feel is when GOD shows me His love. As to ascribing this expression between two human beings… that’s a whole new venture. It’s just so risky. But, I know I have to face it one of these days… one of. And I hope I can have that True Love that has no regrets….
As for all the young adults, we just simply can’t “regretfully [look] upon the closed door.”
“When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us.” (Alexander Graham Bell)
And I must fight the crumbling idealist inside of me and must hold fast and believe that GOD is good and that GOD is purposeful and GOD is doing a great thing in me and through me for His Glory… Jesus really IS everything. And again, I desire a deep True Love with Him that will leave me with no regrets in life.
“I have no regrets in my life. I think that everything happens to you for a reason. The hard times that you go through build character, making you a much stronger person.”
so unexpected
it’s interesting how GOD plans things in your life. i can never get used to it. it always boggles my mind. i’m in a place of awe.
what blesses me the most in life is when people who have very little or nothing, gives everything. it is the most amazing experience of love. it reminds me of my parents. it reminds me of Jesus. it makes me want to love like that…
thank you for the example.
you have no idea how much it impacted me.
