What’s Love Got To Do With It? - World Light Mission Reflections Blog

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This weekend I will officiate my niece’s wedding. In preparing for what I am going to say about love and marriage it made me start to wonder if maybe Tina Turner was on to something. What does love (in the way we use the word) have to do with anything? I love Chicago style pizza. I love The Princess Bride. I love my car, my house. Sometimes we even say we love certain people.

Merriam-Webster gives several definitions for the word love.

A strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties.
Attraction based on sexual desire.
Affection based on admiration.
Unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another.

More importantly, how does the Bible define love? 1 Corinthians 13 4-8a says, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”

We can all read these words and say “yes” I love my spouse and my kids. Granted, we aren’t always patient and kind, but we do love them. We will go out of our way to make their life better and help them to grow into who they were meant to be.

The real question is, do you love the guy who lives next door and has trash piled up on the side of his house? Do you love the person that cut you off in traffic? Do you love the homeless person who asks you for some food? Do you love the people in the opposite political party as yourself?

Do you love the people that are hard to love? Do you feel loved by someone, anyone, the way you want to be loved?

Love has everything to do with reflecting Christ. Jesus commands us to love. “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35)

So how will the world know you are a disciple of Jesus – IF you love one another like Jesus loves you.

Try showing some love to “another” who is outside of your circle. Try to protect, trust, hope, and persevere “another” that needs your love. Not sure what to do, ask how yourself how you would like to be treated. Go with grace over appearance or situation. Things are rarely what they seem from the outside. It won’t be easy, but I bet it will be worth it. It may even be another Tina Turner classic, “Simply the Best.”

Written By Mike Plog
#BeTheLight #LoveOneAnother

WLM’s focus is to provide mission opportunities for youth and families to serve together using their unique gifts. Each project is tailored to the needs of the site and the gifts of the volunteers.

Visit us at worldlightmission.org for more information on shining the light of God's love in your community or around the world.

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