Words Of Encouragement To Start The Day (Wednesday 02/16/2011)

Are We Completing Our Mission?

1 John 4:10-12 (Amplified Bible)

¹⁰In this is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation (the atoning sacrifice) for our sins. ¹¹Beloved, if God loved us so [very much], we also ought to love one another. ¹²No man has at any time [yet] seen God. But if we love one another, God abides (lives and remains) in us and His love (that love which is essentially His) is brought to completion (to its full maturity, runs its full course, is perfected) in us!

1 John 4:10-12 (New International Version, ©2010)

¹⁰ This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. ¹¹ Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. ¹² No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

            Some months back, my son was going through something that was out of character and out of hand.  After refusing to carry on head to head or conduct the laying on of hands, I told him calmly that I loved him, but if he could not respect me, and get himself in a posture of understanding, respect for boundaries and compliance, he would have a few months to get himself together and move out.  Now many of you may say that is harsh, but, he is not a small child He is a young man.  As I cried myself to sleep for over a week over this, one night as I said my prayers, I heard deep down in spirit, let it go and release him to me.  In those moments as I prayed, I found myself relaxing in God as He reminded me of the prophetic words spoken over my son, many years ago.  I let go in those moments, not of the love for my son, but the anger and me trying to control and force conformity, and compliance.  Fast forward to a month ago, my son came to me and talked to me after he apologized, His words to me were “Mom, please don’t give up on me.”  I wanted to cry, I knew God was moving in the midst of that situation.  I gently told him, I was not giving up on him and that I was here.  I had to realize that to complete the mandate of loving my son, meant being obedient to God and releasing my will for the will of God to be manifested in my life and His.
            All too often we want to give up, when things get hard, or when we want things to go our way.  Sometimes we are so focused on ourselves, or what we are doing, trying to get away with or how we are feeling in a moment, and we lack the fortitude to do what is right in the name of love, and what is expected of us by GOD our Father.  You see, when we are entrusted with people and with the love that they give and the love that we are supposed to give, it is a responsibility.  But it is also a privilege and honor, one that requires us to put away selfish motivation, fear of failure and any behavior that will grieve God and abort His ultimate mission.  Just as Jesus loved us enough to go the distance and complete His mission, in spite of what he was feeling, so we should do the same.  Love does not insist on its own way, but it will surrender to the voice of God and seek to do what is best.  I have heard some people say to me, about people that are in my life, “I don’t know how you do it.” Love is a commitment and a choice.  It is a God ordained act.  If we try to love through the flesh only, we will struggle and many times fail, because what we want, or what we deem is easier, becomes the focus instead of God’s will for our lives and what He is trying to teach us or mature us to.
            How many missions of love have we aborted?  How many times has God been speaking and we have plugged our ears or justified our actions over His? How many times have we said I can’t because it was an act that required us to move beyond what was easy, familiar and comfortable to explore the unknown, or something where we did not control the outcome?  I can honestly say that I have been there, but God is growing me to hear his commands concerning love and to complete the missions assigned.  So, will you complete your mission or will abort your destiny, because you are in the way of God’s plan?