Description

In Mark 4:24, 25 we read that Jesus said, “Pay attention to what you hear: with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you. For to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”

What we want increased is not to be more loved to where we say, “I love you so that you will love me more.” I suggest that what we want to see grow is our capacity to love. We love that we might be made more loving — that more of God's love may flow through us.

And I’m convinced that our capacity to love is either growing or shrinking depending on my motives.

I suggest that when it comes to God's love, the law of giving reads like this: the more I am motivated by Christ’s love in what I do, the more my capacity to love will grow. In other words, when the love of Christ rules with in me and I practice being patient, I will made more patient. If I practice being kind I will be made kinder still, and so on.

Conversely, the more I am motivated by anything but Christ’s love, the more self-centered my life will be — the more narrow and empty until any capacity to love is altogether gone, taken from me.

So what does it take to grow our capacity to love? In other words, How do we keep our lives motivated by Christ’s love?

I think we can differentiate between what we could call routine habits that prepare our hearts and heart habits that open our hearts for God’s love to flow through us.

The routine habits are these:

• personal worship and prayer
• Bible reading and reflection,
• corporate worship and fellowship,
• giving of time and resources.
• and keeping a day of rest

Here are seven heart habits that I think keep our hearts ready to pass on God's love. Allow me to personalize them and perhaps one will stand out to you as being something to work on right now in your life:

1. Decide to trust God with all your heart and tell Him so.
2. Set aside your own understanding of the problems you are facing right now — all that you think should or shouldn't be happening.
3. Reflect on Christ’s immense love for you. What have you noticed recently that reminds you of how deeply loved you are? Meditate on it. Take it to heart. Let it soak in.
4. Unload all your cares on Him and thank Him that He has them in His hands.
5. Put your plans for the day in His hands and ask Him to guide your steps.
6. Practice remaining conscious of His presence as you move through the day.
7. Look to the Holy Spirit to show you how to be a blessing to everyone who comes to your attention.