November 6, 2020
I just finished a book in which the “cog in the wheel” expression was used about an employee of a big company. I was pretty sure what it meant, but looked it up anyway. Oxford’s American Dictionary defines a cog as “a tooth on the edge of a wheel or gear that transfers motion by engaging with projections on another wheel or bar.” The man in the book I read had a seemingly unimportant job (cog), but without him, the big company (wheel) wouldn’t move.
That isn’t much different than how loving others works. Just as two sets of cogs have to engage to make motion, love and action have to engaged in order for anything to be produced. So often we say, “I love you” that it’s meaning has been demeaned, I think. We can say we love a dress, car or tv show, but do we really? The word LOVE is more important than material things that please us. It is an action that comes from the heart.
When we, as Christians, say we love one another, but do not match our words with action, then no loving action will be produced. Jesus tells His disciples how important it is to do the showing of love to others.
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35 ESV
Notice He uses the word love four times and the word ‘you’ six times. Jesus makes it clear that this is not a request of His. It is a commandment; the disciples are to act like He did. That’s what a disciple does. He learns from His teacher and puts into practice the exact things the teacher does.
Galatians 6 is a good chapter to read about love. In particular, these verses written by the apostle Paul, stand out to me, as an active model of love:
And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. Galatians 6: 9-10
Dear Father,
Thank You for opening our eyes to new ways of seeing things. Whatever brings us closer to You, we want to see and do. You didn’t just say You loved people, You prioritized them, listened to them and fed them food and living water. Anyone who knew You, knew Your loving heart. Let me be Your “cog in the wheel” that puts others first and use my heart and action to love others as You did. Help me to do this in honor of all You have done for me and all the love You have shown me. Amen
Journal Homework –
1. List five small loving acts you would do for others if you had the time or money.
2. Pick one, pray about it, and ask the Lord to give You an opportunity to do it.
May God bless your day, His way!
Love and prayers,
Tina
Glory in the Morning 