Love does.
So says Bob Goff in his 2012 book by that same name. Bob is a lawyer who lives on an island. He is more though. He is a very insightful, love-driven, life-loving, servant of Jesus. I started rereading his book this past week and realized why I enjoyed it the first time. After reading Greg Murtha’s book, Out of the Blue where he mentions Bob’s book several times (and where Bob wrote the Forward), I decided to read it again.
In chapter 1 Bob tells the story of Randy, the head of the local Young Life chapter. Randy had inserted himself into Bob’s life in unique ways and Bob didn’t even realize it. In one instance, Bob was dropping out of school and was going to Yosemite to hike and get a job. Trouble is he neither hiked and ultimately could not find a job. On his way out of town, he stopped to tell Randy he was leaving and on the spur of the moment Randy said, “Give me a minute.” He went into his room and came out a few minutes later with a backpack with one strap and a sleeping bag. His words were, “Bob. I’m with you.” That became a common refrain. After striking out finding a job, and sneaking into the back of a tent to sleep, he gave up and headed home. The whole time Randy was saying, “Bob, I’m with you.”
There is more to the story but what Bob wrote is priceless.
What I learned from Randy changed my view permanently about what it meant to have a friendship with Jesus. I learned that faith is not about knowing all of the right stuff or doing a list of rules. It’s something more, something more costly because it involves being present and making a sacrifice. Perhaps that is why Jesus is sometimes called Immanuel-‘God with us.’ (p.8)
What Randy taught Bob and what I need to remember is love is more than words. Love does.
Love does. Not love thinks. Not love talks. Not love demands. Not love ponders. LOVE. DOES. Sounds a bit like what John wrote in I John 3:11-“This is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another.” A little later on in that same chapter John wrote: “We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us.” (v.16) In verse 18 he wrote: “Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.”
How do you see love?
Absolutely the same.
I have a saying: Let love be your loudest voice through your actions.
I’ll answer both comments at the same time Diane. First, it is good to hear from you. I hope you are doing well. Second, the saying is spot on. What a difference it would make if we all used that saying.
Wow! That is a great perspective on serving Jesus. Makes me look harder at how I show love. Thanks for sharing this!.
I’m glad my thoughts spurred yours Pam.
Love is a foundational frame of mind. Real love, AGAPE love is a decision, not an emotion. A kind of love that can only to us by God. A kind of love that comes from sacrifice. Never swayed by emotions or feelings, Though our emotions and feelings and actions will most certainly be impacted by this type of Love.
You said it well Ryan. Love is not a “follow your heart” emotion. It is much deeper.
Love does . . . Love is never passive nor disinterested. May we do the love of Jesus each and every day. He is always with us.
Blessings, Bill!
Very true Martha. I particularly like what said about never passive or disinterested.
First of all we need to tune out all of the music, movies, books that have told us what love is. Read what the Bible tells us love is. To really love others like Jesus loves us, I will be working on that my whole life. Showing true compassionate love, the willings for us to give up everything, for another, can only begin to develop once we totally surrender to Christ first, and take up our cross for christianity. It is easy to backslide, but we can never accomplish the goal if we are not constantly walking with Christ.
Very true on many fronts Gail. The two I picked out were to “turn off” what we are told or see. So much is represented. Second, we can never accomplish the goal if we are not walking with Christ.