Linda Buishas
“Give them my love.” It’s what I often say to someone when asking them to pass on a message to a loved one for me. “Please give them my love.” I assume it’s understood that I wish that the love I have for them be conveyed to them by another. But when God says to us, “Give them my love,” He means so much more than passing along only words. Telling the world that He loves us is only the beginning. Giving them His love is a divine calling and a message nearest to His heart.
It seems to me that every person who wishes to live the life that God planned for them has a heart-message He gives to them to convey. If you listen carefully each time you hear an individual teach or preach, you’ll probably notice a common theme. Most importantly, in every message, the call to salvation should be somewhere in the midst for any to ring true. “For God so loved the world …”
I believe our Heavenly Father’s own personal heart-message for all of us is, “Give them my love.” This is His heart-message to our hearts. Sadly, the depression, addictions, confusion, anger, hatred, and discontent we see in so many impoverished souls tell us that too many people have never received this gift, which God so freely gives. They haven’t experienced His love, which gives wisdom to navigate challenges and assurances that brighter days lie ahead. They don’t have God’s gift of hope, peace, and profound sense of belonging that speaks to every heart that knows His love. To understand that His great love can change lives and make all things possible can mean the difference between overwhelming joy or constant sadness. But if we don’t honor His call for us to give them His love, how will they ever know it?
Giving His love is extending kindness, forgiveness, mercy, and compassion to those within our sphere of influence. It means loving the seemingly unlovable and lovingly conveying God’s life-giving truths, without contempt or judgment. It means to give selflessly of who we are and what we have. God’s heart-message challenges us to love others, not only as we wish to be loved but as we are loved by Him.
God’s ultimate message of love is Jesus, His only Son. We are to carry on His message by giving the love Jesus has for us. May we always reflect God’s great love to one another and give gratitude to our precious Lord for all He has done for us.
During this holy Christmas season, while celebrating when love came down, humbling Himself to show us His perfect love, let us look into the faces of those Jesus came for and give them His love.
“We have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.”
Merry Christmas!