Love has power

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’" Mark 12:30,31 NIV

If there’s one thing that rivals my love of running races it’s volunteering at them so that others can run (something that can't be done without unpaid workers). Whether I’m manning an aid station, passing out medals at the finish line, working packet pickup, standing on the sidelines cheering, or directing traffic at an intersection, I always leave an event with a smile on my face from having interacted with runners and other like-minded volunteers. And it was after working the Cabin Fever Reliever run with friends on Saturday, with renewed joy in my heart from having done so, that I saw a sign on the back of a van window that asked this question, “How can you change the world?” The answer was on the other side.... “You can love!” “Oh yes,” I thought to myself upon reading the timely message. “Loving God and loving others, which was the answer to the question posed in Mark 12:28, is indeed the only way we can change the world.”

And you know, when it comes to love (and isn't this a great day to talk about love?), can you just imagine if each and every believer heeded the two commandments Jesus said were the greatest of all? To love God with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strength and then to love others as ourselves? Keeping in mind then that the biblical definition of agape love is sacrificial, regards others above self, gives first and expects nothing in return, one way we love others as ourselves as commanded is when we give of ourselves to not only meet their needs but to express genuine care and concern for them in ways that go above what is expected or even deserved.

So knowing that love has the power to change lives, make sure to do your part my friend. Love God with all that you have and put the needs of others above your own. Look for opportunities to serve and do it as often as you can, knowing that the love you show a friend or stranger just might inspire them to pass that love on, creating a ripple effect that could indeed change the world. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding us that there are opportunities all around us to share the love of Christ with others by serving to meet their needs. Lord, give us a heart so focused on You that we can't help but love in a way that is contrary to the way the world loves and is the type of love that will cause others to seek the One that inspires it. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!