John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
Like is one thing, love can be… at times something completely different. Like is usually what we enjoy-love is something we do for others, as the above verse demonstrates-the ultimate sacrifice for others.
This memorial day we are reminded of those who gave their lives for us… those who sacrificed to help keep us safe. They endured dangers and hardships in our place. We are grateful for their sacrifice. Their difficulties are an example of what the Lord mentioned above, the giving nature of love.
I don’t want to imply ‘liking’ something or giving encouragement to someone is wrong…if we ‘keep the love in like’. In other words, the motives as to why we like someone or something can mean everything.
Liking something on Face Book can at times show how we desire to support their effort to help people laugh, reach out and care for others. That is sooo cool!
In church, this can be compared to saying ‘Amen’ in a service to a truth that has been spoken. We can even take this concept further. When Jesus says Truly, Truly I say unto you…the words in the original language are AMEN AMEN I say unto you Jn. 5:24. He is saying I really want this truth to penetrate your heart, it is sooo important. I personally believe AMEN should be spoken spontaneously, a unity of purpose with the Holy Spirit inside of us. We are not only agreeing with the teacher who spoke the word, but-by His grace-committing to this truth. Amen is so much more than being in agreement, it means devoting our lives to this truth in the Word. See How Should We Preach 2
So when we ‘like’ something on Facebook, or say Amen in church it can truly be supporting those who are reaching out to others. This part is the ‘love in like’.
We can easily however start to like the likes in 
. Yes, pun on words I know. You might be thinking ‘Now Bill we are all human….who does not want a little encouragement and recognition every now and then.’ ‘If you were honest, you at times like the likes in like…or whatever!’ 🙂
That’s the problem, please read on. I have to be honest with you. I have liked the likes, and the Lord is wanting me to see how this can cause a problem in my walk with Him. ‘ Yes, I am Guilty!’ Please, no stones larger than pebbles…lol.
When He started to show me what happens when I do this…’take the love out of like’ it can really start to have my eyes drift away from Him. When the Lord brought to my attention how many of His children were focused on ‘others likes’ not just on social media but in church…it really hit me.
His Eternal Perspective
If we look at who we are in Christ, this puts our lives in proper perspective.
The Word explains we are ‘children of God‘ when we come by faith into His kingdom See A Child of God, Understanding God
Galatians 3:26-27 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
We are seated with Him and share in His glorious love for us.
Ephesians 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
According to 1 John 1, receiving the encouragement from the church is actually finishing a bond that began in heaven… it completes His joy in us through each other. That’s the love that flows out when sharing the Good News with others! See Fellowship or Friendship
1 John 1:3-4 that ye also may have fellowship with us-(as)… our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ… that your joy may be complete.
I believe the Lord wants us to share what is important in life. It does not matter what ‘format’ we do this, but what does matter is the sincerity of heart in which we do it. Almost all of us have done something for others, taught a class, tried to help and it did not turn out the way ‘we’ desired. Did the Lord not say, keep your eyes focused on doing My work and leave the results to Him.
2 Timothy 4:6-8 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering (persecuted for sharing the gospel), and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day,
How many churches have been destroyed because men focused on ‘turn-outs’ and not on Him. Or, in simple terms, they set a course on what they wanted and not on what the Lord desired. They got their eyes off the Lord and His purpose-to their ‘likes’ or the ‘likes‘ of others. You see where this is going.
At times it can be difficult, but the Lord is really trying to teach me to keep my eyes on the task He has given-and not on the response given back. When He does give me a nudge to write or speak from His scripture, He wants me to be encouraged by His Word seeded to others and not on the size of the harvest returned 1 Cor. 3:6, Jn. 4:37. Whether in church, social media or sharing the Gospel on the street corner, He wants me to speak, ‘Thank you Lord for giving out Your truths…1000 thumbs up or down, thank You Lord!’
As our hearts and eyes are touched by heaven, His message becomes powerful-His unity unmistakable. Sharing what is going on in our lives is wonderful, but the welfare of others becomes His true heavenly desire-priority-in us. Having the Lord show me how far I have gotten from this at times…and the church…is simply His act of love for us. He wants us to have His heavenly love in us and not be so focused on our earthly ‘likes‘. We can’t rise to His throne upon high- if we are attached to the ‘likes‘ of the world below.
It’s worth mentioning again what the Lord teaches us in Matthew, if we put the Fathers will from above first, His heavenly love and our earthly likes will become one holy divine union. Praise God!
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Mat. 6:33
May the Lord bless you as we share His words and thoughts 🙂
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