What do you think of when you think of One heart, One mind, and One love? It makes me think of how much we have in common as human beings and don’t even realize it. I believe we all are running after the same thing more than anything. What is it we want more than anything? What is it we chase after in life? What is it that is going to bring us contentment and peace above all else?
From my perspective, it is love. Like you, I want a love that comes from a place of sincerity and truth. I want love from a heart that accepts me. I want it from a heart that honors me. I want love from one who knows the True love.
How do we to recognize this love? Do we look for it in every person we meet, thinking they might be “the one?” If we catch their eye and they stop to tell us wonderful things, which stroke our ego and we love to hear, will that tell us that they truly love us? How are we supposed to know? Do we make the mistake of offering them more of ourself than we should, in the beginning, because of the things they say? How do we decide when others truly love us? How do we know if their words and affections, without realization, are simply to fill a need of their own?
My experience has taught me well that the “looking in the eyes” test, for love does not stand the test of time. Just because we have a feeling, by looking into someone’s eyes, does not spell love. Our creation is purposed for a greater love. We need to allow ourselves time to watch another’s actions through times in our life when we are in need of support, encouragement and have reason to celebrate. When we take time to see real life interactions from another, through our difficulties and our celebrations, the true person emerges. Over many years and experiences I have found it true, that trusting people, without the filter of the Truth, does not withstand the test of time or give what we seek.
We do not have to look hard to see that people are human; they make mistakes, they fail and they do not always keep their word. So, if we cannot fully count on people, who do we count on? Where do we turn when someone has hurt us deeply, when we need to know the Way to go, when we are uncertain about another’s agenda? Learning what the heart, mind and love of Jesus looks like can lead us to know Him in a new and deeper way. As we build our personal relationship with Him, we begin to understand His heart, His Mind and His love. We begin to see the Truth of His love. We begin to understand what love really is and what it is not.
One heart, One mind and One Love is knowing Jesus Christ. He was the One who loved each of us enough to give His life for us. He submitted His will to the will of His Father. He honored His Father. His Love was poured out for each of us, through the sacrifice He made by giving His life. He invites us to know Him and believe Him. He wants us to know the truth so He can empower us to depend upon Him through His Love.
If you ever have a doubt about your incredible worth, think deeply upon those words! Jesus Christ endured all His pain, suffering and persecution in honor of His Father, so that you and I could receive an invitation to live with Him for eternity! When we know the love of Jesus, we know the One Truth and we are able to decide by that love, if another’s love is true. If we discover their love is not real, we point them to Christ by knowing His love, and they too receive the opportunity to have their need met in Him!
Talking With God
We come before you God on bended knee and with humbled hearts to ask you to forgive us for not seeking your love first. We ask you to lead us into a deeper relationship with you, increasing our want to bring honor and praise to your name, in the way we show love to all people. Father, as you lead us today, pierce our hearts to want your love above all. In this love people will know we belong to you. Thank you for hearing our pleas and your faithfulness in answering. Through the name of Jesus precious and Holy name we pray, Amen.
“Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is and is to come.” Revelation 4:8 (NIV)
Suggested Scripture Reading: Ephesians 5:1-2; John 3:16; 1 John 3:16; Galatians 5:6; 1 Corinthians 13:8; Romans 5:5
2 Comments on One Heart. One Mind. One Love.
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Allison, Beautifully put and so very true! We have to know Jesus’s love in order to know love. I immediately thought of I Corinthians 13:4-7:
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance…Three things will last forever – faith, hope and love – and the greatest of these is love.
So, even though I thought that some of my past relationships were love, they were actually the opposite of what God tells us! I just thank God for showing me the truth and sister there is no love greater than His!!!
Yes Debbie! You are so right! Per Andy Stanley yesterday, these verses are historically used for marriage vows; yet they were established as a guideline for us to love people.
I am amazed at how things work! Just yesterday the message from Andy Stanley was about this very topic! I want to share the points he made which are critical for us to understand to know what this looks like and how to apply it!
Andy shared:
The health of all relationships flows out of how we trust people! This will be determined on two things:
1. What we see
2. Who we are
Trust verses from this scripture
Verses 5-6
“Love delights in those doing the right thing”
verse 7
“Love always protects, hopes and perseveres”
1. Love protects the relationship – when it is the hardest, do everything to trust
2. Hope is the explanation of that
3. Love believes and endures all things
Summary is LOVE BENDS!
1.It gives the other person the benefit of the doubt
2. It always looks for the most generous explanation
3. Love chooses trust over suspicion
As we talked about in the blog the core of great relationships is TRUST
WE all have expectations and experiences. But what is in the middle of those?
I love how Andy put it that there is a gap there and WE CHOOSE what to do in that gap
When we find ourselves seeing behavior that causes a gap, what do we do? WE CHOOSE~~If we CHOOSE TRUST (Believing the Best) that is love. LOVE BENDS!
Andy shared much more . . .
Summary –
LOVE BENDS – DO UNTO OTHERS AS YOU WOULD HAVE THEM DO TO YOU. Luke 6:31
When you can’t choose to trust, LOVE CONFRONTS, but not in a mean way. Only through a loving, respectful, kind and gentle way!
Go to the person, share that you want to trust them, you want to understand and you keep the door open to the relationship.
If we do nothing, anger develops internally and becomes embedded to the point the relationship is severed. A wise man will BEND!
Andy shared Five points Jesus asks us to commit to:
1. When you see the gap – I will believe the best
2. When Others assume the worst about you- I will come to your defense
3. If trust is eroding by experience – I will come directly to you
4. When I cant keep a promise – I will let you know ahead of time
5. When you confront me about gaps I have created – I’m going to tell you the truth!
These are great commitments for each of us to make. I want to live this way each day and in each experience. Thanks Andy for the great application!
THE FOUNDATION OF ALL RELATIONSHIPS IS TRUST!