Decision Time

I Corinthians 16: 13-14 – “Be alert, stand firm in the faith, be brave and strong. Your every action must be done with love.”

It had happened again. I felt that wave of uncertainty and fear come over me and hoped that no one around me would sense my alarm. Be brave and strong I told myself.

I headed straight to the parking lot and scolded myself for not paying closer attention to where… I had parked my car! This was embarrassing. As I walked down the rows I realized I had entered the building by one door and had come out the other. I began to push my cart across the lot like I had meant to do it but I knew if someone were watching, they could only feel pity and I’m sure utter a snicker or two as they watched me stroll through the parked cars.

How often we aimlessly head out to the world with a million things going through our minds and not really paying attention to our actions or our thoughts. We wonder what we will fix for dinner. We mentally list our errands for the day. We are puzzled by a comment someone posted or spoke. We ponder how we will ever get everything done by December 25.

Paul says in this letter to the Corinthians to be deliberate in our decisions. You can’t be alert and be half-hearted. You can’t stand firm without resolve or you will be pushed down. You can’t be brave without a conscience decision. Then he tells us the really tough command – your every action must be done with love. Over all of these, we must be purposeful in our love to others.

What greater time of year to be purposeful to love others. It doesn’t come easy even if it is a command, even if it is a great time of year to love. We will have to pay attention to love or we won’t love. We will too easily be distracted and let other things fill our minds.

We can’t love as God commands without first knowing He loved us. Nothing was ever more purposeful or planned that what God did in His redemption plan for mankind. He loves me! He loves you! He was determined for us to know Him and have a relationship with Him. His every action is always with ultimate love.

Purposeful, determined…relieved! I just found my car…again!