What the World Needs Now is Love

if Mark 12:29-31 TPT
Now a certain religious scholar overheard them debating. When he saw how beautifully Jesus answered all their questions, he posed one of his own, and asked him, “Teacher, which commandment is the greatest of all?”  Jesus answered him, “The most important of all the commandments is this: ‘The Lord Yahweh, our God, is one!’ You are to love the Lord Yahweh, your God, with every passion of your heart, with all the energy of your being, with every thought that is within you, and with all your strength. This is the great and supreme commandment. And the second is this: ‘You must love your neighbor in the same way you love yourself.’ You will never find a greater commandment than these.”

I have been sitting in this passage for several months now.  As the hostility within our country continues to grow, the lines being drawn and an expectation for people to pick a side and defend it, my heart questions the root causes.  We will never heal as a people if we do not find the root of the issue.  As I continue to pray and seek God in these times, this is the answer that continues to come forth.  

To love the Lord with all of the passion in your heart, all of the energy of your being, with every thought within you and all of the strength you hold.  Let that sink in.  If you are consumed with God in such a way, there is no room for any of the enemy's words.  If your heart and energy and thoughts and might are consumed with God, there is no room for anything that is not of God.  There is no room for hatred, there is no room for greed, there is no room for anything that is not represented in the Kingdom of Heaven.  If we are loving God in such a way, we are receiving that love back in response.  If we are pouring our love out on God, we are stepping into a holy relationship that is defining identity and purpose.  When we truly know who God is, and allow Him to tell us who we are in Him, our identity becomes established, allowing us to then find our purpose and calling to live out our lives as His children.  

Once we establish our personal identity in Christ, we are then able to love ourselves as Christ loves us, and through that love, we are able to love others.  If we are trying to love others without the understanding of our true identity, I think we are failing ourselves and we are most definitely going to fail others.  How can we show the love of Christ if we are not infused with it?  If I am believing the enemy's lies about myself, those lies that like to try to creep into my thoughts, I will allow those thoughts to be transferred onto those around me.  I have found that in the times that I have felt less than worthy, I find those around me even more unworthy.  When I am doubting my purpose, I find I question others in the same way.  It seems to be a domino effect.  When I am walking in my identity and purpose, when I am rooted in knowing who I am and what I was created to do, I can honestly say that I find those traits much easier to point out in others.  Am I consuming truth about who I am, or am I consuming lies?  If I am allowing my mind to deter from who God is and what He is saying, I am likely going to bring that into every relationship and interaction that I have.

It seems to me that the younger generations are really looking for an identity.  They want to belong.  They want to feel as though their voice matters and that they aren't left out.  Inclusivity has become a wrecking ball over our society.  If you are not for something then it is believed that you want to destroy it.  If you do not love something, you must hate it.  Life is becoming black and white.  Truth has been blurred by the beholder.  If ever there was a cry for knowing our maker and knowing our purpose, it is now.  

We are missing the greatest opportunity.  We are called to love God and love others.  We need to be so consumed with God that he leaks out of every single pore of our being.  Overflowing with Christ's love allows us to see things that others miss.  Being consumed with Christ's love allows us to love the people who are neglected, who aren't usually seen, who the religious might see as unworthy.  We need to remember that it is not about a building on Sunday mornings, it is not about belonging to a church, it is about BEING the church.  We are called to reconcile other's into the same love and relationship brought us into freedom.  We need to live a life so consumed with love that there is not room for anything else.  We need to sit with our Father who IS love and allow Him to infuse us with a full measure.  We need to remember that we hold within us the fruit of the Spirit, and we should be calling that fruit out in every aspect of our lives.  

The Church is calling for a great revival, and I believe that we have the ability to see the greatest revival the planet has ever witnessed.  Love is the root of revival.  The Church must wake up and begin walking out this scripture.  The corresponding scripture in Matthew ends with the statement that the Law and the Prophets are fully contained in these two commands.  The entirety of the Bible are contained in those two commands.  We want to create programs and processes that overcomplicate things.  What the world needs now, is love.  The works of the enemy are overcome by compassion and love.  

My prayer for our country is that those who are called by His name would find time to sit in the promise of His love, would come to know their identity in the One who created them and would passionately pour His love on those they come into contact with.  

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