The 7:47 Principle

Did the title get you thinking? Try Luke...7v47.
Daniel and I, the rascals that we are, didn't go out to the meeting we had planned to go to on sunday night...but we recieved much more blessing by staying in. (Well, I suppose I can't really know what might have happened had we gone out, but stay with me on this one.) We started reading Max Lucado's "A love worth giving" together.

The first chapter talks about the time where the 'woman' washes Jesus' feet with her tears and hair, and a vial of perfume, from Luke 7. Simon is harsh and distant. He wasn't too thrilled about this 'sinner' touching his Jesus. She came thirsty for God's love, whereas Simon doesn't even know he is thirsty. Instead of being aware of his need for grace, he was analysing it. A person who is forgiven little shows only little love. But how we try to love as though we can do it by force of will...
Could it be that the first step of love is not toward them but toward Him? Is the secret to loving receiving? You give love first by receiving it "We love, because he first loved us" 1 John 4v19.
Long to be more loving? Begin by accepting your place as a dearly loved child. (Eph 5v1-2)
Want to learn to forgive? Then consider how you have been forgiven. (Eph 4v32)
Finding it hard to put others first? Think of the way Christ put you first. (Phil 2v6)
Need more patience? Drink from the patience of God ("Pet 3v9)
Generosity? Consider God's generosity (Rom 5v8)
Everyone annoying you/ungrateful/cranky? God puts up with you (me) when you (I) act the same (Luke 6v35)

Can't we love like this? Not without God's help we can't. We may suceed for a time but our relationships need more than a social gesture. Some of our spouses need a foot washing. A few of our friends need a flood of tears. Our (your) children need to be covered in the oil of love. But we can't give these things to others if we have not received them ourselves. We need a transfusion from God. Start by receiving His love.

He loves you so much. A friend reminded me of that last night, and I was freshly amazed by it. I think we are so quick to forget or trivialise the fact that God loves us. May he give us a deeper understanding of his passionate, extravagant, demonstrated love for us, and may we allow that to overflow into our interactions with others, on a daily basis. Guys this has to be real, much more than head knowledge. How else can we make a difference?

(P.S) Lots of the above is paraphrased from the 1st ch of A Love Worth Giving (Max Lucado)...so credit to him for his wonderful use of words, but more importantly to our heavenly father for the principles we live under. We love him because he first loved us...WOW!