Wednesday, February 10, 2016

Opening Up Our Heart

If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.  1 Corinthians 13:1-3

There is a saying that vulnerability is the last thing I want you to see and the first thing I look for in you.  Here is an example.  When watching a news or press conference or news report, they always move to the center figure of the story.  At some point during the discussion, the person starts to break down in tears.  At that moment, the cameras focus intensely on them, and you can hear the rapid clicks of the cameras reacting to that moment.  We often see that when a person is retiring from something they have done or a relationship they have had for a number of years.  They talk about how much they loved what they did.  These are the things that bring us closer to the person. It speaks of truth, sincerity, and passion.  Many of us love God openly and unabashedly.  Yet at times in this world, some feel to say it or maybe even display it is showing weakness.  However if we cannot be open and vulnerable enough to show this very act, how can we truly love God and others?

Vulnerability to God means to open up your heart to Him as well as others.  The words of Paul in 1 Corinthians 13 speak to the very core of why love must be at the center of all we do.  He was speaking of having spiritual gifts and abilities and how they are rendered meaningless without love.  God’s love for us brings us peace, joy, and comfort.  Furthermore, it can also bring us trials, failures, and challenges to grow spiritually.  Our perception of love tends to be the former, and thus, to show it makes us seem weak and vulnerable.  However if we know the latter is also love, we realize that it is also strength and conviction.  Despite our flaws, God shows us love in both ways.  While loving a flawless God is easy, loving flawed people is very difficult, and leaves us vulnerable to being disappointed and hurt.  However if God is to love us in spite of all of our faults and our mission is to follow His example, we realize we must do the same.


As God loves us, we must love others.  Jesus said, “Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.  Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.” (Matthew 6:20-21)  Furthermore as to the greatest Commandment, “Jesus replied, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’  This is the first and greatest commandment.  A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37-39)  If we treasure our love for God and others the most, we will have the greatest rewards in Heaven, and that is what matters above all.  How can you be more vulnerable in showing your heart for God?  What steps can you take toward loving others as God loves you?  My prayer is that we show greater resolve for opening up our heart to God and others.   Amen.

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