Don't Keep Love to Yourself

Hi friends! My name is Mau! I’m so honored to have the privilege to speak to the community of “Live By Faith” again! Shoutout to my girl Faith and all that she is doing on this blog. Faith, you are shining God’s light and building His kingdom through this beautiful platform, I am so proud of you!

Well family, let’s dig right in!

When I think about my childhood, I always remember how I grew up in such a loving household. We did everything out of love. I was so loved by all of my family, but by my parents especially. They set the example and even the standard of what love looks like and what to expect when someone says those three special words; “I love you”. Their lives were an example of how love crosses oceans for people, how it goes out of its own way, and how it makes one feel such a deep affection in their hearts. But I will say, once I had an encounter with Jesus, the definition I had of love reached a new height. I experienced a love like never before. As a a worship leader / song-writer is is so hard for me to find a song on Spotify that really resonates with how I feel the way Christ has loved me specifically. Guess I’m just that extra, haha. But hey, that’s my truth. No one can explain Christs love for me like I can.

With that being said, I want to ask you a very specific question; How has Jesus loved you? Really think about it. Whether it is big or small. Has He been the only one who truly understands you? Has He been more patient with you than your family, friends or even a boyfriend or girlfriend has been? Has He been the best listener? Has He been the one that chooses you every single time? Has He been the one that has helped you breathe through every single anxiety / panic attack? Has he been the one that stayed when everyone else left?

It’s a yes from me for all of those questions. He was the only one that stayed, the one that saw me when I felt forgotten, the one that loved me as I sinned and still do. As you’ve sat and pondered the ways God has loved you, I want to ask you another question, and this one might hit a little different… Are you loving people the way Jesus has loved you?

John 13:34-35 says:

“Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other.”

Yeah. It’s as simple as that. The one thing that we have received from Jesus is sometimes so hard for us to replicate. Loving people can be hard. Our flesh gets in the way, you are not alone! Even as I write this I think of how sometimes I do not have the patience to love people sometimes. I also think of how countless of times in the past my friends or even strangers have opened up to me about their lives and how they’ve sinned, and my mind goes straight to judgement instead of love. But I want to remind you that our job is not to condemn, not even to convict, it is to show people who Jesus is. And who is Jesus? He is love.

You never know what a simple “I love you” could mean to someone, but Jesus does. So don’t relent, don’t back down. Cross the ocean, don’t let offense get in the way, answer the phone at 3am for that person who is struggling, hug the person that feels broken tightly and don’t let go, continue inviting them to church regardless of what they’re doing on a Friday night, be the listener that you wish you had beside you, chase after the one, be Jesus and don’t hold back.

As I close, I want to ask you one last question. Who is one person in your life that needs some love? A love that only you can exemplify like no one else can. Is it a family member? A co-worker? A friend? Your spouse or significant other? It could even be a stranger. This week, I challenge you to seek God, pray and ask how He wants you to love that person. I’ll be honest, for me it’s my cousin. Interceding on their behalf, being the listener they need, and giving them a tiny glimpse of Jesus’ love for them. His love is too beautiful to keep to yourself.

I pray that this word would resonate and meet you where you are. I love you but more importantly, you are so loved by God, friend.

Talk to you soon <3