Calling

Love Is Our #1 Calling

"LOVE is the most powerful force in the entire Universe. It is the glue that will bond our belief together, instead of the doctrine that does it for the other systems. Love is not being recognized for its power, and it is not being used by us correctly." ~ Lee Carroll

There is one common purpose that we all share - to love our neighbours as ourselves. In fact, you could say that our unique purpose simply describes the how and who we are called to love. There is a specific people group whose needs you were designed to meet in a unique way. However, even if at this point those details are unknown to you there is still something you can do where you are right now - learn to love.

The late prophet Bob Jones, before his eventual death in 2014, experienced death on August 8, 1975. He stood before the Lord in heaven. As he stood in line awaiting entrance into the heart of Jesus, he heard the Lord asking the same question to each person ahead of him, “Did you learn to Love?” It was the only important thing.

Jesus said that loving God and loving others as ourselves are the most important commandments of all time! He also said that the evidence that we present to the world that we are his disciples is our love for one another. Not our correct doctrine, not our great accomplishments; our love.

While loving God and others may be the most important commandment, our biggest need as individuals is to receive God's love. We cannot give what we have not received. All real love comes from God. Our greatest challenge as human beings, and doubly so as leaders, is to allow the love of God to flow through us uninterrupted and unhindered to those around us.

Those of us who are more naturally other-focused can get into a mode of constant giving while neglecting intimacy with God. Others of us are performance-driven and tend to fall into the trap of thinking that achieving a lot for God is evidence of our love for Him. Both of these ways of life can lead to self-righteousness based on works and will certainly lead to dead works and often burnout.

This is why the practice of intimacy with God is the most important of our spiritual practices. Here are some ways you can deepen your intimacy with God:

• Silence and solitude
• Contemplative prayer
• Gratitude
• Adoration
• Worship
• Reading scripture in more interactive ways such as Lectio Divina
• Time in nature
• Journaling

(Note: The #1 barrier to intimacy is busyness. Relationship is built in slow quality alone time with God not doing things for God.)

Having strong relational intimacy with God is crucial for us as leaders. One of the most destructive things is a leader who is working for love rather than working from love. This was what destroyed Saul. He desperately wanted the approval of the people. David, on the other hand, lived to please God - the lover of his soul. We must lead from overflow, not deficit.

Journal wIth Holy Spirit: Is intimacy with God an active pursuit in your life? If not, why not?