Love.
I know this feeling. Counting. Measuring. Am I making a difference? Is it enough? And slowly, without noticing, my worth gets tied to what my hands can produce..
Without even noticing, my validation slowly shifts. From who I am, to what I do. From my being, to my becoming. From love, to fruit.
But fruit doesn does not define us , LOVE does!
Our design is love.
Our identity is rooted in the love of God. Nothing can add to it and nothing can take away from it.
It is when we are grounded, anchored, rooted, defined and validated by nothing in this world other than Love, that authentic fruit and impact flow..
Not striving. Not performing. Not trying to prove anything.
But simply abiding – remaining in Love.
Let’s take it to the start…
Conceived in the womb of our mother’s belly, we were created in love.
A love that’s unconditional, complete and perfect – the Love of God.
It’s a love that cares without ever controlling, that frees you while gently holding you close. It’s tender enough to heal and fierce enough to protect. It’s holy beyond comprehension, yet given without cost.
It’s eternal but still experienced in real time.
It’s this love that, though, unfathomable, remains the hunger of every human heart..
... we feel a void within and we try to fill that space up with worldly validation – applause and accolades. But love like that is way too cheap for a soul that is defined by a love that burns holy…
It is by design that we are to be celebrated, but that place is found only in relationship with God the Father. It is finished he who cherishes us, dotes on us, adores us, and claims us as the apple of His eye!
This space is too holy to be consumed by the pursuit of social media likes, follows, and comments.
I see a generation hungry for God but feeding on the scraps of social media fodder; desiring to make an impact but measuring that by the number of online views they’ve had that day; wanting to belong , but having exchanged the arms of the Father for a platform.
My friend, this should never be..
Validation comes from God, fruit flows from a relationship with God and a voice is formed in the presence of God..
Impact is a simply a legacy that streams from a journey of having embraced love as a lifestyle.
Love doesn’t seek validation. It’s secure. It doesn’t need approval.It knows it already has it. It doesn’t measure or count , it simply gives itself away..
My Father once taught me,
“Let love be the beautiful prize for which you run.”
(1 Corinthians 13:13)
He didn’t say – fruit! impact!influence!
Because our all knowing God knows our design..
We were created to bear fruit , but first we were created to be loved.
Loved thoroughly, completely and without restraint.
Loved in our weaknesses and vulnerabilities alike.
Loved through our mistakes, shortcomings and failures.
Loved till it forms the very substance of who we are, until that substance flows organically in and through our lives like a steady stream of living waters..
》Pay for the coffee of the person behind you
》Text someone “thinking of you, no need to reply”
》 Cover the homeless man with a warm snug blanket.
》Compliment someone’s character, not just appearance
》Write a handwritten thank-you to someone usually goes unnoticed
》 Offer to babysit for a friend’s kid
》Apologize first
Now, we’re making real impact. Now we’re bearing true fruit – fruit that lasts, fruit that outlives us, fruit that remains etched in eternal gold..
Because in the end, we won’t be measured by how much we produced.
We will be remembered by how well we loved.
