Love Others, Serve Others

I haven't been a very good blogger the last couple of weeks. The busyness of life and the achey, tiredness of third trimester pregnancy has consumed much of my time recently. In addition, I have been taking a bit of time to focus on some things that God has laid upon my heart. This focus is much needed, but hasn't left me with a lot of time to blog.

I sat down more than once to compose a post to share with you, my blog friends. Just didn't feel I could find a neat and tidy way to share all I want to say. Still don't think I can, so instead today I will share a few quotes, first from God's Word, then from other resources I have had the pleasure of enjoying lately. I think these quotes will reflect some of what I'd like to share with you.

The words of Jesus in John 13:34-35, “So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

“Let there be real harmony…be of one mind united in thought and purpose.” I Corinthians 1:10

“…agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one heart and purpose. Don’t be selfish; don’t live to make a good impression on others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourself. Don’t think only about your own affairs, but be interested in others, too, and what they are doing.”
Philippians 2:2-4

From Nancy Leigh DeMoss’ book, Lies Women Believe and the Truth that Sets Them Free in the chapter, Lies Women Believe…About Marriage:

“If I expect to be served, I will often be disappointed. If I seek to serve others, without expecting anything in return, I will never be disappointed. (Prov 31:10-31)”

“We are never more like Jesus than when we are serving others.
(John 13:5)”

From J. Otis and Gail Ledbetter’s book, Family Fragrance:

“Loving because someone deserves it doesn’t work. Sooner or later that kind of love will shipwreck. … The model God gave us is that affection does not need a reason, only an object.”

“Modeled day in and day out, children pick up on unselfish attitudes. They begin to live them as well when serving is done in a spirit of affection and positive feeling.”

From Lysa TerKeurst’s new book, Becoming More Than A Good Bible Study Girl:

“Instead of looking at the ministry options our church offers and asking, ‘Which one will meet my needs and feed me the way I need to be fed?’ we must look at our church and ask, ‘Where can I make a difference in the body of Christ?’’”

The message is clear: Love others, serve others. I believe this kind of unconditional, servant love begins with the people within our own home, then extends to our extended family and our church family, then branches out to the rest of the world.

What really sets us apart as Christian believers? Is the love that we have for one another something unique and special, an example to our children as well as to the rest of the world? Something to be desired? Do we show others the kind of love that Christ has shown to us?

I don’t want to be guilty of just saying that I love others and not really showing it, of being self-centered and "me" focused. I also don’t want to get so busy trying to reach out to everyone else and forsake to show Christ’s love and a servant’s heart towards those within my own realm of influence, those God has placed in my life for a very specific purpose, those that are most important to me. Not loving, serving, submitting out of duty; instead loving, serving, submitting out of a full heart...joyfully, humbly, because I really love.

I pray that the world will see the love that we have for one another and be drawn to Christ because of it.

By the way, I highly recommend each of the resources above! :)