The ReturnSample

Growing Your Soul

At times, my life definitely looks chaotic. Still, I can say with confidence that the state of our lives is a direct result of choosing to love. I’m resisting the urge to explain why this is true, because part of my soul-growing journey is learning not to start defensive speeches about why I have good reasons for all the questionable-looking things in my life. 

God’s teaching me to stay humble and not try to explain every detail of my reasoning to people who probably aren’t even judging me. He can defend me if He wants, and if not, then I’m learning to rejoice in that. But as I examine my heart, I find a delightfully stabilizing peace in realizing that the chaos we are walking in is the aftermath of crazy love choices. 

At the start of this week, I expressed my desire to write to you about taking care of, or stewarding, your gifts. And the greatest gift you can give the world is your love. Love brings life everywhere it goes. I must confess, I used to be one of those people who condemned and judged people based on what their circumstances looked like. But I have learned the hard way to stop doing that. And when I feel like all the judgment and condemnation has been beaten out of me, another situation comes around the corner, and I find a new log sticking out of my own eye. 

Jesus said, “How can you take the speck out of your brother’s eye when you have a log in your own eye? First take the log out of your own eye and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye” (see Matt. 7:3–5). We can help people find clarity to certain degrees, but not until we have stopped condemning and judging and showing prejudice. And when we have been thoroughly humbled, humiliated and freed from thinking we know everything, then we can finally help bring some clarity to others. I like to let God be the judge. And then I can be His witness. 

We have been given this gift of life by our powerful, beautiful Almighty God. Figuring out how to steward this gift of life we have been given is one of the greatest adventures to embark upon. I’m still learning about it every day.

How could loving others in small ways change you? Help them? What are one or two ways you can show those you care about your love for them?