TK Chapter 17 :: Loving Without Strings

"We think God tells us to serve in order to get people to respect us or like us so that they'll accept our God.  The real essence of biblical blessing is that it's done with no strings attached.  Hopes, desires, fervent prayer, yes - but no strings at all attached." (p143)

How can we reach out and into our world around us without having certain "strings" attached.  When we talk about neighborhood life, we are not talking about Springs small groups functioning so more people can come to the Springs.  We are not reaching out to our neighbors, so they will come to church with us.  We talk about reaching out and into our world for no other reason than loving our neighbors.  Period.

Living the life of Jesus in our homes, neighborhoods, workplaces, ball fields, gyms, courses and malls, has everything to do with being for the sake of being because God called us to be.  All of us can sniff out someone who is being friendly to us with an agenda - at least most of the time.  We can tell something just isn't right when we are getting snowed.  

Jesus said love.  Jesus was the perfect embodiment of love.  Not some weak-kneed, everything is all good, kind of love, but a love that put the interests of others in front.  A love that told the unimportant that they were important.  A love that lifted up the ones who were pushed down.  A love that allowed someone to shout, when everyone was telling them to be quiet.  A love that accepted when others judged.  A love that defended when others attacked.  A love that attacked when others defended, too.

How easy is it for you to love without strings?  If you are like me, you are tempted to say easy almost immediately.  But stop and think.  Your words are only as valid as your lifestyle.  I want to say I love without strings, but my life doesn't always demonstrate that to be true.  I love to be loved all too often and when I don't get it back, I stop dishing it out.  That just sux.  I don't want to be that way, and I honestly think God is changing me in this area.  It's getting easier.  I am not looking to abandon my expectations of others, but I am trying to remove the prerequisites I have often imposed.