A Mirror Moment

God has given us a directive: love others as stated here in John 13:34-35:

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” 

 He didn’t say love the ones that are lovable or cute or in some way easy to love.  He said love others, all of them whether we want to or not.

I am having a problem following this directive.  I get derailed constantly.  I sit on the side of the tracks all crumpled up, hurt, and in my self-pity, I am angry.  I again wonder what in the heck happened.   Why, is this one command so hard for me? What is wrong with me that I can’t possibly love, as Jesus loves, those that I love and live with not to mention everybody else?  I know I am commanded to, but I can’t.  Why?

While listening to some worship music the other day, I ask GOD what in the heck was the matter with me?  You know, I should have known the answer, but sin blinds you until the Holy Spirit reveals it to you.  But, I should have known the answer anyway because it is all GOD has me write about…

The answer, as always, is in the mirror.   As GOD asks “My child, who’s reflection do you see when you look in my mirror?  Do you see yourself or My Son’s?”

At this moment, the mirror is full of my reflection!  An ugly old self-dog still believing she can do it!

My journey is to allow GOD to change me wherever needed and I do this by surrendering my life to Him. The only way I can live out His command to love others is to allow Him to do it through me.  The love I am commanded to have for others does not and cannot come from me.  The love I must give to and have for others is a love that only comes from my LORD Master.

My reflection in the mirror must be my LORD Master’s or I can never fulfill His command to “love one another.”    My selfish love holds nothing compared to the enormity of Jesus’ inextinguishable and perfect love.  My surrendered life allows Jesus to fill me up with His life and love, which then can overflow to the others around me.

Of course, in writing this sounds so easy, but in my little reality, my mirror moments are hard.  My self-dog just doesn’t want to die. It seems GOD has to chip away at my heart little by little. Slowly and sometimes imperceptibly slow, my LORD Master is cleaning up my heart.

Now confronting sin isn’t easy or pleasant. My many lessons have proved to me that when we surrender to the will of our LORD Master for our life, the result will be the sweetness of joy that can only come from obedience.

Thank You LORD GOD for You first loved me. Thank you that You continue to work in me and haven’t given up.  That Your plans for me are for my good and I can trust You fully. Thank You for Your faithfulness.

Thank You for my mirror moments.  They create in me a heart more willing to trust all to You moment by moment.  I pray for others to have such moments before You LORD GOD. I pray they surrender all to You and allow you to cleanse them as You wish to do.

LORD GOD, we cannot love others as You commanded in our own strength; It is just not possible for us to do.  We need Your love filling us and pouring out to those around us. Humble us LORD GOD so that our reflections are being transformed into Your Son’s.

Thank You LORD GOD for the cleansing work you are doing in my life now. I surrender all of me to You. Work in me as You please.  

I love You, but even that love is only made possible by Your love.  Thank You LORD GOD.

Amen