Fear No Fear

“By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”” (John 13:35, MEV). God loves us enough that Jesus was our example of how to let the Lord provide us with words. God asks of us. But God doesn’t leave us to provide on our own. He equips us and then asks us. He gives us the tools, He gives us the training, and He readies our spirit and then asks of us. It might take us out of our comfort zone. It might require us to expend effort. It might not be comfortable. But we’ll have the tools we need to do the job. One of the biggest tools in our toolbox is love. We are equipped with love. We are equipped to show love. This is meant to be the biggest marker of who we are as disciples of Jesus. One of the biggest ways that we are different from the world around us. We are to show love. And to make sure that we show love, He is there for us to rely on for our words. For HOW to say things. For the WAY to say things. How often we hear that it isn’t WHAT we say, but the WAY we say it that rubs people wrong. God does both of those for us. Jesus is our example (John 12:49). Jesus was given the words. We can be given the words (Matthew 10:19). Yesterday, I did not listen for words. Someone came to our door when we were trying to hustle everyone out. I was called with zero information about who it was from my second eldest child – could have been the police, a neighbour, a relative, or who knows what. I loathe lacking information. I like to know who is there, whether the phone or the door. I don’t like the unknown. So in the midst of bustle, and with no information, I strode to the door. It was a young lady going door to door. She was taken aback that I was irritated. I said we were trying to get out of there and asked what she wanted. She blinked, and then said she was going to go. And she left. Not paid enough to deal with a possible grumpy pants. The problem? While I took nothing out on her and wasn’t completely rude, I was NOT LOVING. I did not say I wasn’t irritated at her. I did not smile nicely. I wasn’t welcoming. I did not listen to her speech (I think it was blood donation services based on her lanyard, but I don’t know). I didn’t use it as an opportunity to make a human connection. I did not show love. I did not take that fraction of a moment to consult Holy Spirit for words. I didn’t even use the fruit in my spirit or grab His Fruit. That was a failure. Jesus was exhausted one day. Practically collapsed on the side of the road. No energy. Couldn’t even stumble into town for the food He desperately needed. Just stayed on the outskirts. While in that state someone showed up. Jesus made a connection. Jesus showed love. Jesus took the moment to get the words and then said them. Jesus was my example. I did not follow. I did not ruin her day. I wasn’t rude. I didn’t take anything out on her. But I didn’t do what I should have done. I was not a loving disciple of Jesus giving HER a moment of refreshment and encouragement in a hard day. I let my selfishness help me choose to sin and disobey God in that moment. I repented. I was sorry. But I missed that moment. We are called to listen. We are called to check in with Him for EVERYTHING. It takes seconds. We are called to be loving. We are called to have self-control. We are called to have everything we say and do be based on our trust in Jesus. Our days are full of opportunities to show His love in a myriad of ways. They don’t have to all be witnessing moments of sharing His message. But they are all seeds of love, seeds of encouragement, seeds to show we are different because He is different. Take the time. Take the opportunities. Sow His seed. We have the equipment. It just makes sense to use it.