This So-Called Love

“Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.”

John 17:3

I went with some friends to the MercyMe concert this past Sunday—it was a fantastic concert! David Leonard (a new band) and Jeremy Camp performed as well. The music started at 7:00 p.m. and MercyMe came on at 9:00—I did not get home and into bed until midnight. Needless to say, I was quite tired the next morning. Rejuvenated and joyous Sunday night; my you-know-what dragging all day Monday. Since the concert, I’ve been listening to MercyMe through my iPhone in my car and working out—I had simply forgotten the beauty of their music and the truth of their lyrics.

There is one small song in their 2010 album The Generous Mr. Lovewell that seems almost an afterthought. At 1:36 minutes, it’s a short song, slow in nature, but simple in message. Entitled This So-Called Love, its lyrics are as such:

I can be there for you when it can't get much harder
I can cover your head when life starts to rain
I can hold on tight when it feels like you're falling
I can bread-crumb the path when you've lost your way
I can make you laugh when the whole world is crying

I can build you up when you're broken in shame
But if all that we do is absent of Jesus
Then this "so called" love is completely in vain

Y’all, this song was the last song I heard as I drove to my parking space this morning, eyes thick with tears. It has been one of those weeks/months—major change happening in key pillars of my life—and the Lord and I chatted about it while I waited in a traffic jam on my way to work. I was primed and susceptible to the emotions that threatened to overwhelm me, even though I know for a fact that the Lord has everything and that He would give me the peace I was so desperately asking for, if I just set back a bit and rested in Him. Struggling to get it together so that I didn’t look like a blithering idiot to the security guard checking my badge and waving me in, I was safe until the song came on. It’s a slow song, one that speaks of closeness, friendship, and security…until the end of the song, where the lyrics take that promise and shatter it with the Truth.

Friends, it’s not enough for us to love as the world loves. It’s not enough for us to do good works, and give money to outreach and mission work without sharing the love of Christ, or without Christ being the reason that we do what we do. Atheists and those from other religions can do good works. They can address the needs of the infirm, poor, imprisoned, and lonely. And they can love. But it is the works of believers, though, those who love because He first loved us, that are meaningful and lasting. When Christ-followers demonstrate the same love that Christ did when He died for our sins, God is glorified and people have the opportunity to not only have their needs met, but their hearts and value affirmed as well. When we are instruments of God’s love, we partner with Him for the eternal well-being of the person who is the lucky recipient of this wonderful attention. That person experiences an amazing blessing, and we too, are blessed.

Prayer Requests

·      For the discernment of His presence as we walk through the storms

·      Blessings on Pastor Ray and April as we prepare to transition pastors

·      For those who are ill, and for their caretakers

·      For us to be the church wherever we are

People need to know the love of Christ, y’all—it’s that simple.  “Agapetoi agapomen”—Greek for “those who are loved, let us love” or “Belovd, let us love one another”.

 Quotes

“Not everything that weighs you down is yours to carry.”

“The only One who can truly satisfy the human heart is the One who made it.”