Because I Love You…

“If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.” 1 Corinthians 13:1-2, NASB

Encased in my pink velour chair, I faced a few more hours of work. It was late, and I was exhausted. I didn’t feel like tackling the job before me. Yet a truth from a lesson I just taught whispered through my mind. It dawned on me that I could choose to work right then and there out of love for the Lord. So I did. Quietly I spoke to Him, “Because I love You, I will handwrite these notes.”

Maybe this sounds like a no-brainer. A simple concept. It is, really, but so often I’m enmeshed in the responsibility of doing. I forget why I should do it. Yet communicating to the Lord that I’ll do what needs doing because I love Him grants me a whole new perspective. Instead of trudging through my labors, I’m energized. My step is lightened, and joy bubbles inside.

God uses my love for Him to fuel my energy ... to lighten my step ... to give me joy. #Momlife #Marriage #Ministry Share on X

I’ve used this phrase in multiple ways ever since God opened my eyes to its truth.

Because I love You…

• I will forgive ________.
• I will wash these dishes.
• I will serve ________ by ________.
• I will care for my family.
• I will write this article.
• I will record this video.

Because I love You applies to any and every life situation. We can preface every matter of the heart, every mundane chore, every spiritual activity, and more with this phrase. Conveying our love to the Lord before we deal with heart matters or before we work shifts our focus on Him. It clarifies our motivation.

Loving Jesus also affects our actions, which these biblical women displayed:

Mary therefore took a pound of very costly perfume of pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.” John 12:3

Because she loved Jesus, Mary of Bethany anointed Jesus before He died on the cross.

Jesus said to her, ‘Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brethren, and say to them, ‘I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.’ Mary Magdalene came, announcing to the disciples, ‘I have seen the Lord,’ and that He had said these things to her.” John 20:17-18

Because she loved Jesus, Mary Magdalene stood outside His tomb, clung to Him in recognition, and communicated His resurrection to the disciples.

Now in Joppa there was a certain disciple named Tabitha (which translated in Greek is called Dorcas); this woman was abounding with deeds of kindness and charity, which she continually did.” Acts 9:36

Because she loved Jesus, Dorcas performed acts of goodness and mercy.

Our love for the Lord can get swallowed up in the urgency of accomplishing our ‘To-Do List.’ It also can get forgotten when we place more emphasis on the task rather than the reason we do it. Even when we’re under conviction to obey God’s Word, we sometimes fail to acknowledge where our desire to obey should originate: Love for Christ. That’s the bottom line. Recognizing this reality before we roll up our sleeves or before we deal with heart issues will empower us.

What work or matter of the heart demands your attention today? I encourage you to bow your head first and tell the Lord, “Because I love You, I will ____________.”

Let's declare our love to the Lord, knowing We love, because He first loved us (1 John 4:19). #Christianity #Love Share on X

In Christ’s Love,