Lie = If people really knew you, they wouldn't love you.
Truth = If people really knew you, they could really love you.
I believe this quote can be applied in our lives is a couple of different ways. But, the more I thought about it the thing that began to stand out was that God knows me better than anyone and HE knows......
Sometimes, I act like a brat. Sometimes, I pout and whine. Sometimes I throw gigantic pity parties for myself. Sometimes, I’m rude to my husband. Sometimes I’m rude to my kids. Sometimes I am rude to my friends. Sometimes, I am rude to strangers. Sometimes, I feel like skipping church. Sometimes I worry and stress over all that I have to do. Sometimes, I'm selfish with my time and my resources. Sometimes, I ‘m lazy and don’t do my job very well. Sometimes I overreact and make a big deal out of something stupid. Sometimes I yell. Sometimes I cry. Sometimes, I cuss. Sometimes I am a very poor reflection of Christ. Sometimes I need to ask for forgiveness. (Okay a lot of times) and lots of times I need to forgive. The list goes on and on........ In so many ways I am a mess. A big fat mess that makes so many mistakes, and I'm sure makes some people wish they didn't know me.
Satan and the world would want for me to believe that I’ve messed up too many times before, that my actions prove I’m a crazy nut, hypocrite, or I don’t really have it in me to be the woman of God I desperately want to be. But when I stop long enough to get out of my woe is me moments, and truly be still and listen to God…..He talks. He longs for me and all of us to understand He loves us in our humanity….our imperfect, flawed humanity. He loves me even as a repeat offender as much today as the day I was born. God doesn’t see my sin and my mistakes when he looks at me he sees me as I really am:
Which makes me full of gratitude and awe that He can love me so much even when I am such a mess. This fact makes me want to strive harder to have my actions and life glorify HIM in all that I do. Accepting His perfect love also challenges me to be more like HIM. I want that passion to care about others. I want to really know people, to extend grace, mercy and forgiveness. But, I especially want the desire to love them like HE loves me.
Oh, how our lives and our world would change if we really loved like Jesus loves....
"....Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another...people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.." John 13:34-35
