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With the Labor Day holiday here this weekend, I'm reminded of this verse:
Remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Thessalonians 1:3 ESV
Love is a choice. To labor is a choice. I can choose to work at things diligently or I can choose to give a half-hearted job. But when it comes to Christ, I choose to do all things whole-heartedly.
When most of us think of the word labor, we think of work. But does it have to be *ugh work* or can it be *yay! work!*? Sundays tend to be my busiest day of the week. We have church in the morning, Sunday school, and Awana. Frankly, I spend more time at church on Sundays then I do at home. Sometimes I get frustrated because I tend to miss my football team play, but it's ok. I know worshiping God is much more important.
I teach 3 & 4 year-olds on Sunday night and if that's not a labor of love then I don't know what is! To see their faces light up when they are hearing and understanding the word of God is amazing. To hear them recite Bible verses that they have memorized gets me excited. To receive multiple hugs through the night warms my heart.
However, my labor of love doesn't end on Sunday night. Every day of the year is labor of love day. Remember this verse:
If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture,
"You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing well.
James 2:8 ESV
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My neighbors are not just the people in the house to the left and right of me. My neighbor is everyone in the world. I need to show them love and it is not easy! There are just some people that make it hard to love, which means I need to work at it. There's that word work again. Nowhere in the Bible does it say it is easy to follow Christ's actions. But we are still called to emulate Him.
How do you emulate Christ by showing Love to others?
Elizabeth is a National Guard wife and a stay at home mom to three wonderful kids. She blogs at Elizabeth's Treasure Chest in her free time. She also loves to bake all sorts of goodies for any reason.
Right now I am working on not complaining and grumbling towards others but instead showing mercy and grace. Some days I feel I should simply lock myself in my closet, but I'm learning.
ReplyDeleteIt IS work to love others sometimes. But, the most important work, isn't it? Thank you for the reminder, Elizabeth!
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