Relevancy and Love

The question was posed recently, "How can we be relevant to those around us?" Meaning: How can I relate to the lost in a way that draws them to the Savior?

Relevant means "having a bearing on or connection with."

It hit me a couple of days ago, as I was reading a friend's blog, that her husband is a picture of relevancy. Early every Monday morning he goes down to a homeless shelter and runs with the homeless men who sleep there. Every Thursday he and his family go downtown and feed, fellowship with and minister to the homeless that gather.

Jesus met physical needs as well as spiritual. My friend doesn't talk about what needs to be done, he does it. He doesn't just say he loves these lost, homeless men, he shows them. Action.

Which, of course, leads me to the greatest commandment of loving God and others.

We all hear that love is a decision. I used to think that meant you decide to feel love. On the contrary, what it means is despite how you feel, you choose to show love. You choose to be patient and kind whether you feel like it or not. You choose to not act irritable even if you feel irritable. Hard to do. Is it possible? How?

Galatians says the fruit of the Spirit is love. So it is possible but only because of the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

And showing, acting in love begins at home with the ones closest to us then extends to everyone we meet.

It's so appropriate that the world says in order to love others, you must first love yourself. This is one of the enemy's lies! We already love ourselves. Why else would Jesus tell us to love our neighbors as ourselves? As Reb Bradley says, even the person who says he hates himself can't stop thinking about himself. We have no trouble loving ourselves.

The truth is, in order to love others we have to understand and believe God's love for us. Then, we have to stop looking at how we can please ourselves and look for ways to love others. It's got to be a conscious effort to make a habit of looking to the interests of others - our spouses, children, grocery cashiers, homeless guys, families without food, everyone without Hope. Eventually it will be a way of life. And a way of life that pleases our Maker.

So, how can we be relevant and draw others to Christ? Love them in word and deed.