The church is being formed to be a church of being rather than doing out of obligation. Encountering His love towards me makes me loved because I am being loved, blessed, honored, respected. As a result I become those things to others. I become a loving being and love not out of obligation, but because of the character that I have become. He is love, therefore I become love because of our marriage and because we are one. Love is not an obligation. Much of my ministry has been out of obligation and much of it has been out of love. I have loved not knowing that I was. He is waking us up to be conscious of the love we are.
He is now moving in such a way to make us aware that the love dynamic He has with us flows through us. He is making us aware of intentional love, the intentionality of kindness and patience where we are fully aware of what we are doing in our interactions. When I pray for someone, I am loving them – I am being love to them. When I give to someone, I am loving them and being love to them. When I preach a message, I am preaching out of love – I am loving on my audience because I care for them just as He cares for me and teaches me.
I have been largely unconscious of the fact that I have been a loving person, but now He is waking me up to see that. He is waking us all up to this. Seeing that helps me to evaluate my character and my motives. I am there for them rather than for myself. He is training us up to be there for others and not to get accolades, a pay check, power, authority, recognition, privilege. True love creates joy and peace in others. This is what He is calling us into. True love creates harmony and peace.
From the Lord, “I am turning the church into a peacemaker just like the peace we have with each other. The peace we have with each other, spread it to others.”