Megan Byrd

Writer

love

Loving Well When It’s Difficult to Love

Love Within Reach devotional

 You have heard that it was said, “Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.” But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matt. 5:43-48 NIV)

I don’t think I have any true enemies. Well, besides the common, unseen enemy of all children of God. There isn’t another human set on my demise. No one pushing obstacles into my path and speaking ill of me to others. At least, not that I know of. Nor am I trying to take down another person. So who is my enemy?

Is my enemy someone who has different opinions, political ideologies, or thoughts about God? Someone I find difficult to love? Society seems to want me to think that’s the case. Sometimes I’m swayed into thinking that perhaps such people deserve bad things, but I don’t actively wish for harm and suffering to befall others.

There have been people in my life who are difficult to love. People who have made snide comments, ignored my presence, or tried to make me feel small. I’ve known people who are essentially walking storm clouds, seeing everything in a negative light, and sharing their thoughts with full force. While they aren’t my enemies, they aren’t people I enjoy spending time with.

These are the people Jesus wants me to love and pray for, but it’s a struggle. Why should I pray for them to be blessed? Why do they deserve my time and attention?

Because I’m just like them, and God still offers me love, grace, and blessing.

I’m not perfect. Unkind words have left my lips many times. I’ve chosen selfishness over generosity and helping others. I have days when I’m stuck under a storm cloud and can’t find a silver lining.

They are me, and I am them.

There may be reasons someone I find it difficult to love is having a bad day, week, or year that I know nothing about. I don’t know the challenges of their work, the struggles they’re experiencing in other relationships, or the circumstances that have brought them suffering. I think God wants us to pray for those who are most difficult to love because it’s love that effects change.

When I’m loved, I feel like I can do anything. It spurs me to do better and be better. I want to repay the favor by showing love and compassion to others.

The problem is that while I’m always loved by God, I forget and don’t live like it. If I took to heart the knowledge that God loves me and is for me, then perhaps I would love others better, even those I find frustrating and challenging.

Read the rest over at The Glorious Table.

Love Within Reach

Love Within Reach devotional

Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I will give this morsel of bread when I have dipped it.” So when he had dipped the morsel, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. Then after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.” (John 13: 26-27 ESV)

I’ve often wondered how far in advance Jesus knew that Judas would betray him and Peter would deny him. Did he know even before he called them to be his disciples? My human nature is to think that he’d have loved them less or treated them differently if he’d known at the outset how fickle and self-serving his disciples would be. But my knowledge of God’s unconditional love leads me to believe that Jesus knew it all and loved them anyway.

Jesus preached that we’re to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us (Matt. 5:44) and then he lived it. He prayed for leaders who plotted against him and soldiers who carried out their bidding. He prayed for people hurling curses at him. “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they’re doing” (Luke 23:34 NIV). He prayed for strength for his weak, human disciples. He looked lovingly upon them even as he knew what was to come.

We read these things in the Bible. We know his love to be powerful and unalterable, and yet we also believe the lies that we have to earn his love, that it’s possible to lose his love. We mess up and immediately start chastising ourselves, calling ourselves stupid, weak, and worthless. This isn’t what Jesus wants. It’s not how he speaks to those he loves. He speaks only words of kindness, comfort, and invitation. He invites us to find rest in him. He encourages us to turn away from things that do not help us.

Love Within Reach

Jesus loved well those who disagreed with him, actively sought his death, and turned away from him. His love excluded no one. He loved even as he corrected. The Samaritan woman wasn’t living abundantly. Jesus didn’t condemn her, but acknowledged her current life and invited her into a new one. It was his love that drew her to him, that resulted in her desire to change. But even if she hadn’t accepted Jesus’ offer, he’d have continued to love her because his love isn’t conditional.

Read the rest over at The Glorious Table!

Four Ways to Spread Love This Christmas

The whole point of the Christmas story is love. The Bible makes it clear that the birth of Jesus was the result of God’s love for his people. “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16 NLT). Knowing what we needed, God sent Jesus to embody love and show us how true love looks. God wanted to be with us and love us personally, so he sent Emmanuel, “God with us.”

While Jesus was on earth, he lived a life of love. He cared for all people, intentionally reaching out to those who were considered outcasts or less-than by society. His interactions with others demonstrated that God loved them, freely offered forgiveness, and invited them into a new life.

Jesus’ love changed people. Zacchaeus was a tax collector who defrauded people for his own gain. After encountering Jesus, he vowed to repay four times what was owed to anyone he’d cheated. Jesus’ love and acceptance changed Zacchaeus’ heart, proven by his transformed behavior.

A Samaritan woman drew water from the town well during the heat of the day to avoid being shamed and ridiculed by others. Receiving love and forgiveness from Jesus resulted in her becoming an evangelist to her town. She stopped hiding from others and instead shared her encounter with Jesus with everyone who would listen.

Lives are changed by experiences of radical love. Jesus understood this and tried to ingrain this message into his disciples. “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:34-35 NIV).

At Christmas especially, we should be striving to follow this command and love those around us in such an extravagant way that there’s no explanation except Jesus. What are some ways we can make love the central message of our Christmas season? We can imitate Jesus by words, thoughts, and acts of love as well as teaching others to love.

Read the rest at The Glorious Table.

Are You Motivated by Love?

All my life I’ve had an internal drive to be the best and do it all in order to be considered valuable. This drive has often manifested as perfectionism. In school I strove to receive the top grades and most accolades, earning the title of valedictorian in both high school and college. I participated in as many activities and clubs as I could. I tried to be a loyal and faithful friend, a loving and pleasing daughter, a diligent and dependable worker, and anything else I thought was expected of me. These pursuits aren’t necessarily bad, but the motivation behind them was. I was fueled by fear of rejection, ridicule, failure, and imperfection. I was afraid if I wasn’t all the things, I would be nothing. I thought I’d be rejected because I’d lack worth.

For so long I’ve felt the need to prove my worthiness. I was afraid if I didn’t measure up in some area, I would lose acceptance and love. I’ve been afraid of others thinking I’m not a good Christian (whatever that means). I’ve been afraid of being labeled a bad friend, student, wife, and mother. I’ve been continuously concerned that something I do or fail to do will bring judgment on me.

Finding Freedom

God’s recently begun asking me to trust that his love and acceptance of me are inherent, that they can’t be lost or forfeited no matter what I do or don’t do. It’s hard for me to accept that there’s no work to be done on my part, but I’m slowly taking steps to believe this, and it’s starting to free me.

I’m learning that I don’t have to be motivated by fear, that I can be motivated instead by love. I’m loved regardless of whether I make good choices or bad choices. I can act selfishly or decline to help others and not be less valued or accepted. I can also love others out of the unconditional love I’m finally allowing myself to receive. Previously, this felt too good to be true. There’s always a catch to something that appears to be free, but this time there’s not. I can mess up, fall short, or fail, but God will still love me just as much. I can succeed, show compassion, and sacrifice for others, but still not have earned anything. I already have unconditional love and approval from God.

Read the rest of this post over at The Glorious Table.

Living Loved

As I have been studying what love truly looks like lived out, I realized that it is also important to remember how loved I am. I want to love people well, but to love well you have to be loved well. Obviously, no one loves better than God, but as a fickle human, I often need the reminder of my status as God’s beloved. Remembering that regardless of my behavior or others’ thoughts of me, I am loved, valued, and accepted can help me continue to reach out in love. One of the most encouraging sections of scripture that reminds me I will never not be loved by God is Romans 8:35-39.

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?

Paul is talking to the early Christians for whom all of these things were very real and literal possibilities. My most pressing concern is ostracism. It’s in a similar vein with persecution, but it’s more the fear of rejection, of others dismissing me as dumb or gullible or foolish. I also think that fear of scarcity is another factor that keeps me from being more generous in love. Sometimes I am afraid that if I give so much of my time and resources to others, I will end up wanting. It’s a lack of trust in God’s provision.

36 As it is written:

“For your sake we face death all day long;
    we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

I assume this was a literal death. The early Christians were being persecuted and killed for their belief that Jesus was God’s son. Yet they continued to share their hope and faith with the desire to spread it to those around them. For me, I think sharing my faith and loving others well involves daily deaths to myself, to my wants and desires. I have to surrender my wants and agenda to God to make room in my life for his plans and purposes.

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 

Through Jesus, we have victory over death. The things we accomplish in love are greater than anything that could harm us. We will have eternal blessings for our earthly work. Jesus did the hard work for us of sanctifying us from our sins. Therefore, it can no longer harm us and should not entangle us. We should feel free to lavish love everywhere.

38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,

Whether we are dead or alive, we are still God’s creations and still loved by him. Choosing to honor God or choosing to go our own way, neither will keep God from loving us. His love for us won’t change no matter how much time passes or what direction our life takes. There is nothing more powerful than God. Nothing with more power than God’s love.

39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

I wonder if “height“ and “depth” are euphemisms for heaven and hell. No matter where our souls end up, God will still love us and be fond of us. There is nothing in this world, nothing in the spiritual world, nothing we can do or say, that will ever remove God’s love from us. Jesus, in his love and compassion and grace, died for us. This one act eternally reconciled us to God. We can choose not to accept the gift of salvation, but it won’t keep God from loving us.

This makes me think of the question often asked about why a loving God would send people to hell. It’s our choice, granted to us through free will. If we hate God, why would we want to spend eternity with him? Hell is eternal separation from God and heaven is eternal communion with him. God loves us so much that he will not force himself on us. We can choose not to be with him and he lovingly gives us our choice, regardless of the pain it brings him.

The reminder that I am loved always, regardless of behavior or thoughts, is encouraging and comforting. I have often felt (and lived) as though I had to work to keep God’s love. I don’t always completely believe that God’s love for me is secure so I focus on living perfectly to earn it (or not lose it). If I can remember that I am always unconditionally and deeply loved, then I am released to love others. I can trust that God, because he loves me, will provide everything I need and don’t have to horde what I think I need. I can, instead of grasping tightly, open my hands to both give and receive.

 

Do you have any different or additional thoughts about this passage? 

Five Things I Love/Hate About Summer

It’s Memorial Day which means summer is practically upon us! There are some amazing things about the warm weather and freedom from a daily school schedule. However, there are also a few things that are not so great about summer. I thought it would be fun to share the ups and downs of summertime in the south with my kiddos.

Five Things I Love/Hate About Summer

1A. Going to the pool!

I love the feel of cool water on my skin and the weightlessness of floating in the pool. It’s a fun activity for all of us and it’s a short drive to our neighborhood pool. Sometimes we invite friends and have a great time.

1B. Putting sunscreen on three people every 1.5-2 hours.

My daughter and I burn fairly easily so regular sunscreen application is a must. I’m glad that we now have face sticks and spray sunscreen for easier application. And the kids are old enough to lotion up their arms and legs. It’s no fun trying to sunscreen a toddler.

2A. The warm weather!

I am cold natured so I love weather where I can wear flip flops and short sleeves. I am more likely to get outdoors if the sun is shining and I don’t have to bundle up in coats and hats.

2B. The humidity.

I don’t particularly enjoy sweating through my clothes even when standing in the shade. My parents live out west where there’s not much humidity and I enjoy the break from the sweltering heat and humidity of Georgia when we go visit them.

3A. Having a leisurely schedule.

During the school year I wake up at 5:30 which is not my favorite time of day. Summer means sleeping in and laying around until it’s time for the pool or hanging out with friends. We have plenty of time to find fun and free activities like Chick-Fil-A’s Cow Day. It’s a break from school work and a chance to relax and breathe. So wonderful!

3B. Listening to the kids fight from seeing each other all day every day.

I get it. There is such a thing as too much family time. But there’s not a whole lot to be done about that during the summer. At least when we’re at the pool they seem to get along for the most part.

4A. So much daylight!

It’s so nice to wake up to daylight and be able to stay up later. The days feel longer. We have more time to spend outdoors hiking, playing, swimming, etc. It makes me happy.

4B. The bugs.

All creatures seem to enjoy the warmer, longer days of summer. Especially mosquitoes. During the day, the heat is often too much for them, but in the evenings when it’s nice and we want to be out socializing with friends or attending outdoor concerts and firework displays, we have to practically bathe in bug repellant. We also see plenty of gnats and wasps.

5A. Fresh fruits and veggies galore!

We plant a garden each spring. It’s so wonderful when everything is ripe and we can pick our own berries, tomatoes, peppers, spinach, lettuce, basil, and peas. The kids are more likely to eat something if it came out of our garden.

5B. The kids want to eat 24/7.

During the school year, the kids seem to be just fine with three meals and one afternoon snack. I don’t know if it’s all of the outdoor time or the lack of a regular schedule, but in the summer they seem to be hungry all the time! Snack requests come at all parts of the day – an hour after breakfast, two hours after breakfast, three hours after breakfast, an hour after lunch, two hours after lunch, two and a half hours after lunch…etc. Where does it all go?! At least we have plenty of healthy options available.

 

Do you agree with my list? Do you have anything you would add?

Verified by MonsterInsights