Finding My Way Home: A Journey to Discover Hope and a Life of PurposeSample

Love Like Jesus

Our culture claims that hard work and financial accomplishment equals success. I’ve heard it said, “No one gets to the end of life and says, ‘I wish I had worked more.’” So, what if we lived as if this were true?

Yesterday we talked about the importance of relationships in our life. I don’t want to move forward in our time together until we’re sure we have our priorities straight. Whether you are married or not, you have to tend to your closest relationships.

Early in our marriage, I spoke harshly to my wife and kids. Yet, I was doing the best I knew how: I read the Bible, spent time praying, and went to church. I was doing all the things Christians do, yet I was leaving out what’s most important. You see, I can do all those things, but without love, it’s all meaningless.

In my mid-thirties, God rocked my world by showing me that I was a condemning, manipulative father. That was a hard reality. I led by law and not by love. Because I didn’t know the love of my heavenly Father, I wasn’t able to love the way He loves. So God has been bringing me through a process of transformation in my mind, resulting in an action-proven love.

I have to realize that I don’t know what I don’t know. I still seek the Lord daily by studying HIs Word, praying, and asking Him to show me the sin in my heart. As the Holy Spirit changes my heart, He changes the way I think. My actions then change as well. Thank the Lord we have a God who loves us so much He wants to reveal these things to us, so we know Him and love others.

Don’t neglect those closest to you as you work hard and gain external accolades. We need people who know us well to keep us grounded. We are stewards of all God has given us, and some of His most precious gifts are the people living in our homes.

Take a minute to think about your three closest relationships. Are they getting the intention they need? Is there anything you could do to improve them?