One Word: Love

Every year I choose a word to focus my thinking. I never know at the beginning of the year what my word will be. I pray about it, wait, think a bit, and usually something will continue to pop up until I can’t ignore it any longer. 

Last year, I didn’t think I would even choose a word, but early in 2019 the word “perspective” kept coming up over and over again until I couldn’t deny that this was the word God wanted me to focus on. I never wrote about it, but I thought about that word often—it popped up everywhere! And, boy, did I need a healthy dose of perspective last year.

I still do. And that’s the thing about choosing a word for the year—those words become ingrained into my mind and heart. I still need to remember to show grace, especially this year. I still need to rest in my heavenly father. I still need perspective.

This year, my word didn’t find me until about a month into the year. Just like last year, I thought maybe I wouldn’t need a word to guide my thinking this year. I figured I could take a year off. But then this word regularly crept into my thoughts and into my hearing. It’s like I couldn’t get rid of it.

Finally, I gave in. Now, here we are, six months into 2020 and I’m finally sharing my word with you. 

Love.

I fought so hard against this word (like I do every year) because it feels so trite or weird or overused—so much like those “Love” posters you used to see everywhere or the sign in downtown Philly that makes me chuckle every time I see it.

This word felt . . . I don’t know . . . fluffy to me.

And besides, I know myself, and I know how hard it is for me to love well. I’m just not that good at it. I didn’t want to choose that for my word and end up feeling like a hypocrite.

But let me tell you something: choosing what, for me, feels like a hard word, has been good for me, because so many times it has caused me to stop, pause, and think, “Love.”

Even when it’s hard. 

And right now, love feels hard. Love feels almost unattainable in our world. Love feels like a pie-in-the-sky kind of emotional crutch; I’m not even sure what love looks like anymore.

Which is why I’m thankful for God’s word that shows me in no uncertain terms what love looks like.

Here’s what I’ve learned so far:

Sometimes love looks like waiting (Luke 12:35-40).

Sometimes love looks like listening (John 4).

Sometimes love looks like picking up a stranger who doesn’t look like you, tending to his wounds, and accompanying him to safety (Luke 10:25-37).

Sometimes love looks like prayer (Matthew 26:36).

Sometimes love looks like sacrifice (Matthew 27:45-54).

Sometimes love looks like taking action against injustice (Matt. 21:12-13).

Sometimes love makes us uncomfortable (Matthew 26:75).

Sometimes love looks like humility (John 13:1-20).

Sometimes love looks like breaking from tradition (Matt. 15:2).

Sometimes love calls out injustice (Luke 11:42-44)

Sometimes love is exhausting (Luke 8:23). 

Sometimes love is treated unjustly (Matthew 27:1).

Sometimes love is beaten (John 19:1).

Sometimes love is mocked (John 19:3).

Sometimes love is denied (Matt. 26:34).

And yet love continues on toward the purpose it was given (John 12:27; John 18:36-38).

What does love require? Withdrawing (Matt. 14:13). Compassion (Matt. 15:32). Forgiveness (Matt. 18:21-22). And yes, even division (Luke 12:50-52).

Our best example of love is right before us, laid out in the Word of God. What will we do with that?

What we must do, what we are commanded to do, is to love our neighbor. No matter what.

But here’s what we cannot do: we cannot love from our own well. We cannot love from our own will. We cannot love of our own volition.

We can only truly love others when we abide in the one who is Love Himself.

Jesus said, “Abide in me. For apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)

Hear that? NOTHING.

I cannot love my neighbor without first abiding in Christ. I cannot love my enemy without first spending time in God’s word. I cannot love anyone without spending time in prayer.

I cannot love without Jesus.

Lord, teach me in this year, just a little more about how to love well by abiding in you, our first, only, best example of love.

 *****

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