Giving LOVE~

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

Romans 8:1-2

Jesus is LOVE?

Man will often hold us to higher, unreachable expectations, which can often confuse our image of Jesus.  Since we were very small, people in our lives have set expectations with conditions of reward/acceptance or denial/rejection.  These ways of man have been ingrained into us over the course of time, in which we begin to bow down to others in ways never intended by the Lord.  I guess you could say it is a form of control to some degree or rather the tactics people use to get us to submit to their desires and what meets their needs.

All my life I have noticed how there are, “Takers or givers,” constantly coming and going through some revolving door I have evoked.  When we are a natural born, “Giver,” it seems the ones who are, “Takers,” do just what they do best… Take from us.  I must admit this can make one weary at times, however, Jesus strengthens us to overcome all things.  Even, “Takers.”  Being a Momma, myself, it is timely and in God’s order to give to your children.  However, when an adult is in your inner circle, draining the very life out of you, it is time to take a another look and perceive by the Holy Spirit if that particular relationship is actually ordained by the Lord.  This is not to say we cannot LOVE them, but rather with some we must love from a distance.  As we move forward with the Lord Jesus, the dynamics of our lives change and when this happens it is only reasonable the lives of those close to us are forced into change as well.

It is during this breaking moment, condemnation begins to rear it’s ugly head.  I would resemble it to the OLD clashing with the NEW.  Then a real Spiritual battle ensues.  You may have even gone from being a, “Taker” yourself, to being renewed in the Lord as a New “Giver” Creature.  This shakes things up a bit, to say the least.  You’ve changed, others haven’t so they do not recognize you like they did before. Therefore, they have a longing for you to be who you were, not who you are in Jesus.  You have now chosen the better part, a life laid down, but instead of embracing you, they now long for the old you.  A rift occurs.

And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

1 Peter 4:8

Charity is giving love.?

But this does not mean giving self, like many believe.

I used to think I could, “Give,” someone enough to make them LOVE me.  But they do not need ME, they need JESUS.  I do not need to give my life to them, because He already did that, Jesus saves – I cannot.

So as I was laying in bed last night, just talking to the Lord I began to ponder the condemnation of men and how their perception of me is a far cry of the real me.  He began to show me without HIS LOVE to pour out I may as well not even try for in doing so I am attempting to lay down my life in replacement of Jesus in another’s life.  It is true, we are to lay our lives down for our friends, but that is totally different than trying to make someone love you by giving so much of yourself in order to gratify them, to the point of compromising and losing yourself.

We touch the hearts of many, but Jesus Alone can heal a broken heart.  We can give love to them through the process, but in order they not be hindered in the process of being set free from sin and death, our giving can actually stand in the way of the Cross work in their lives.

No one can heal like Jesus.

No one can love like Jesus.

In a mere attempt to love you, I may lay my life down, however, I will always fall short in one way or another.  The same is true for all of us.  My prayer is that for today Jesus will wrap around your heart to guard and protect it from any outside influence of condemnation.  That you will see none of us will be good enough in another’s eyes or our own, so it is time to stop striving and just BE LOVE.  As He pours in, we will pour out.  But not pour our self out, but HIM.  We cannot give something we do not have and the truth is we are all leaky vessels to some degree.

If I could take all your pain away, I certainly would.  To be honest, I would take mine away, too.  But what I can do, is introduce you to the ONE Who is mighty to save and rescue as ALL who call upon His Name shall be saved.  He loves you with a fervent LOVE.  And it is perfect and complete.  It has no condemnation attached to it, no strings, no negativity whatsoever.  So for this day let us just be reminded to not give so much of ourselves to others that we have nothing left to give to HIM.  As we lay our lives down, how about starting with Him?

Today… HE IS GIVING LOVE AWAY.  Just receive. ?

Love in Him,

?Angela ~ Marked By Heaven