Love & Lust

‘I love him’ … ‘I love her’ …

We sometimes we think we love people. But a little more observation … a little more observation — how ironic — exposes our heart’s state.

I used to claim I loved certain people, but I’d ask, ‘why don’t I love my biological brother the same?’

Something was off.

You see, when the Bible says the path of the just shines more and more — or brighter and brighter unto a perfect day, it doesn’t refer to only success. It also speaks of the darkness embedded and must needs be dispelled out of our hearts. With more light shining, every bitterness hiding in nooks and crevices is forced out undone!

Our unforgiveness of others gets convicted. Our selfishness, our hoarding, our jealousy, our short temperedness — the Holy Spirit sheds light beams upon until these vanish out of our hearts.

Speak of death to self …

When God exposed this selective loving, I examined my heart, through His lenses. I realised I liked so and so because of their money, their phone, their apparel, their muscles, their beard, their societal stature, and so much more.

How about the unappealing to the eye? How about the poor? Those I used to overlook (And maybe you do too).

I am not saying don’t dress smart, or don’t look your best. Obviously that will attract many to you. But, I had gone beyond ‘liking’ and I was obsessed — doing my best to be so close to these people.

But God exposed my lust. If I am to love my neighbor as myself, I must love all neighbors the same. Not treating some highly and others as naught.

Ah, He searched my heart! And ah, I had to wear sack cloth and ashes.

Other times, we love people for their outward expressions; and that’s how prophet Samuel almost anointed someone that appealed to him. And yet he was not God’s choice.

How many of us have chosen leaders, and spouses using our sight? How many of us have crowned kings who were not God’s choice for us. And in the long run, ah, we regret!

May God open extra eyes for us to see both into our hearts, and those we desire to be friends with. That we bear His eyes, to see the unseeable, and see those around us as He sees them. Amen and amen.

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Psalms 139:23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if [there be any] wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.