Love Is What It Does

By Jonelle Maxwell

Love is what it does was my pastor’s late wife favorite motto. After every message she ministered, even after our conversations, she would remind all of us that love is expressed through our actions not just with words. 

She modeled this with her action towards everyone she came into contact with, but most importantly, I watched her model this with her husband. She was faithful to no end. Even when he took sick, she was there.

She was most definitely a woman that expressed love in action.

As we look around ourselves today, this is the question many are asking. Where is the love?

In the scripture, Jesus warned us that the hearts of many will wax cold in the last days because of wickedness. 
[Matthew 24:14] 

In spite of all we see around us, I believe God is calling us back to the place of loving one another as He has love us. Somewhere along our walk we stop loving one another which leads me to believe we’ve stop loving God. When God is first, we will not lose heart in having right relationships with one another in household of faith because we are in right relationship with Him. 

*As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
[Galatians 6:10]

I remember years ago we dared not to gossip or mistreat those that name the name of Christ. We was afraid. There was a godly reverence that pierced our heart towards one another with dignity and love. We loved fellow-shipping with one another so much that our homes was always open to extend hospitality. No one was left feeling abandoned. All was welcomed. This is how the Church is suppose to present ourselves…like family. 

You may be wondering why I use the term family.

Well, because God first institution was marriage and family. Again,as we look into scripture, Jesus always related His relationship with God as Father, until He felt abandoned during the crucifixion. 

*And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? [Matthew 27:46]

I remember God taking me down the journey of seeing people like He sees them. THROUGH THE EYES OF LOVE

I was walking into work one morning when I heard the Lord say, “See them like I see them.” During this time, the Lord was also teaching me about leadership His way in how to treat people. In reality, He was training me in the area of pastoral. Funny as this may sound, my adult co-workers became my children. I started seeing the transformation in them. In fact, those that was older than I, called me Ms. Jonelle. There was a respect that came with it. There was a honor. I would offer them advice from a motherly perspective. This is was also the reason why I became so protective over those God entrusted me with. They actually felt like my children. Although I did not have any of my own. See, when we see people through the eyes of the Father, we have more patience with them. We tend to embrace them with love than abandonment. 

How many times have you felt abandoned by a leader?

I guaranteed one way or another you have. Well, this is not to get upset at the leader. More than likely the leader was never taught how to see people like the Father sees them. THROUGH THE EYES OF LOVE!

If you have experienced abandonment, then ask the Father to heal you and to bestow His love upon you. Then, ask Him to place you around those that will express His towards you.I don’t believe God want any of us to feel abandoned. That is not what true love is all about. He want us to walk the earth as He is. He want us to be mature in love.

*Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. [1 John 4:17]

*There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. [1 John 4:18]

We are living in the time that love must be expressed so His glory will be seen upon us in a greater way in these last days.The Father is saying He has one thing against us and He knocking on the hearts of the those that claim to be His with His love. He want us to get back to the place when we first believed…OUR FIRST LOVE!

*But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. [Revelation 2:4]

LET’S GET BACK TO LOVE!!