Love is the defining mark of one who has made the Kingdom turn. But we need to “work out” the love God’s Spirit longs to unpack within and through us. So we need to know what we’re looking for concerning how love is expressed. Today’s excerpt from The Kingdom Turn is found on pages 156 and 157:
“Just as there are indicators which can guide us into greater love for God, so there are indicators which will help us know when we’re loving our neighbors as we should, and that can guide us to grow in this Kingdom practice. [Over the next installments, I will] mention five. In each of these areas we may consider whether we really love our neighbors as we love ourselves, or whether we need help growing in some aspect of that ‘greatest of these’ virtues.
“First, we love our neighbors when, like Jesus, we seek them out to love them.
“This is just another way of saying we need to learn how to reach out to others with the love of Jesus. Jesus did not wait for lost or hurting people to find their way to Him, although multitudes of them did. He went looking for them. He learned the names of many of them, and used their names freely. He took the initiative in making certain contacts, some of which He repeated many times during His earthly sojourn. Jesus started conversations with people and was doubtless a good listener. And He prayed often for others, seeking their wellbeing before the Father.
“We can know that we love our neighbors when, like Jesus, we go seeking them, in order to touch them with His love.”
For reflection or discussion
1. The first step in seeking to love our neighbors is getting to know them. How can you improve in this area of love?
2. How consistent are you in praying for your neighbors? What should you pray about for them?
Jesus said He had come to seek the lost. We need to emulate this part of His example of love, taking the initiative as often as we can to show caring attention to those whom God has put in our lives. Seeking our neighbors—daily and in prayer—will help us show and grow in our love for them. Share today’s podcast with a friend, then get together to discuss it. Your copy of The Kingdom Turn is waiting for you in The Ailbe Bookstore.
T. M. Moore
