Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Loving Vertically

"Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy." - Psalm 126:5

There is nothing more difficult than being in the midst of our pain and someone needs something from us.  Whether it is our mercy, forgiveness, compassion or simply time spent in their pain, it depletes strengths that we don’t have to give.  This is the way of the Lord however, as He guarantees that as we reach out to others, He reaches down to us. 

We access His grace, mercy and compassion as we give it away which is why there is an endless supply.  God would not require something of His children that we were incapable of giving.  God knows that as we live outside of ourselves it frees up the flow of God’s provision for every situation.  He chose us to be His hands, mouth and feet to accomplish great things in His name.  This choosing was not because He needed us to do His bidding, but because He wanted us to participate in His divine nature.  The more participation we experience with Him we more know and love Him.

No matter what our pain is we are called to a higher level of living and to plant God’s hands deeply in the lives of others.  When vertical love is present first and foremost (earth to heaven), then we access what is required to love horizontally (our heart to the heart of others).

In my estimation this forms the cross.



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