Love is all you need

I love trying to hold onto opposite Truths. Maybe love is the wrong word. I want to. I would delight in any moment when I am able to. It is hard. But the rewards are worth the challenge.

Opposite truths:

-God's standards are the highest for me and you and we don't measure up.
-God loves us completely regardless of our failings or weaknesses.

Let's hold onto both of these truths. and then when we are sure that God loves us completely, let's turn around and love everyone the same way he does. (Isn't it fun to be dedicated to optimism?) Let's love this way.

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. -Romans 12:9-21

Wow. Yes, lets. We will try to hold all of those exciting fulfillments of love before us as the standard. But then let's not judge ourselves too harshly if we are not able to mourn with the mourning and celebrate with the joyful simultaneously. Let's be dedicated to helping the hungry enemy, and not shake our heads in disgust that we forgot to pray while we were cooking the meal. There is a time for everything does not mean that now is time for everything. We can free ourselves from guilt knowing that now is still the battle, and the important thing is not that we win the whole war ourselves. The important thing is that God chose us for his side. Let's surrender our desires for perfection independent of him and submit to obeying his commands one at a time.

Today, let's delight in being simply obedient to one thing on this list. All we need is love. That makes it sound simple. Don't confuse this statement with "all we need is to love perfectly." The truth is that all we need is the love that we are already surrounded by.

Thanks Jesus for being love for us that we might dwell in that love.

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