With Every Act Of Love

December 16, 2015 by coleen hayden

Sitting at the stoplight
He can’t be bothered by the heart cry
Written on the cardboard in her hand
But when she looks him in the eye
His heart is broken open wide
And he feels the hand of God reach out through him
As Heaven touches earth

Oh – we bring the Kingdom come
Oh – with every act of love
Jesus help us carry You
Alive in us, Your light shines through
With every act of love
We bring the Kingdom come

There’s silence at the table
He wants to talk but he’s not able
For all the shame that’s locked him deep inside
But her words are the medicine
When she says they can begin again
And forgiveness will set him free tonight
As Heaven touches earth

God put a million, million doors in the world
For His love to walk through
One of those doors is you
I said, God put a million, million doors in the world
For His love to walk through
One of those doors is you

Jason Gray

* ♥ ~ ✝ ~ ★ *

Christmas is ~~all~~ so much about giving. Even the stingiest folks that we know…you know, the ones with the ‘bah! humbug!’ attitude…understand the giving of the season. Little children understand about giving; big kids, too. So much of our conversation at this time of the year centers around the subject of giving.

Now…back to my first sentence. What I first wrote is true. ‘Christmas IS all about giving.’ THAT is the absolute, total, complete, whole TRUTH!

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son,
that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
John 3:16

But, wait…let’s look at those words again. God ‘so loved the world…’ His love was the motivation. And what He gave (His only begotten Son, Jesus), well that’s love, too. Almighty God has set the standard for giving—LOVE. Giving should be all about love.

Just like God, love should be the motivation for our giving
Just like God, love should be what we give

And we, as His children, have been enabled and equipped to be ABLE to love.

…for God’s love has been poured out in our hearts
through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us.
Romans 5:5

So, in the midst of the sewing, and the wrapping, and the baking, and the shopping, and all the other activities, here’s a challenge I would like to set before each of us: let’s purpose to give LOVE! I can only begin to imagine the myriad of opportunities that we will have to give love if we look to do so! Start small, perhaps…give love by smiling at those you meet. Whether wandering through the aisles or in line at the grocery store…look into the eyes of those you pass and smile. (Oh! And pray for them!) Or go a little bigger…there are so very many needs in this world! Go to a battered women’s shelter and sit and talk. Visit an assisted living community and sing Christmas carols. If we ask God to lead us and give us opportunity to show His love…I KNOW He will!

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God.
Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.
Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
This is how God showed His love among us:
He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him.
This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us
and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
Dear friends, since God so loved us,
we also ought to love one another.
1 John 4:7-11

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Oh dear Father, You have shown such a perfect standard for giving. And we thank You for that! And You have enabled us to show Your love by pouring Your love into our hearts. Help us, Father, especially during this Christmas season, to reach out with that love. Help us to go beyond our comfort level, and be love to those who need love. May You be pleased by our obedience and our actions. And may the love we show draw others to You. Thank You for Your love, gracious Father! We love You so! In Jesus’ precious name, we pray. Amen.

With Every Act Of Love

Sitting at the stoplight
He can’t be bothered by the heart-cry
Written on the cardboard in her hand
But when she looks him in the eye
His heart is broken open wide
And he feels the hand of God reach out through him
As Heaven touches earth

Oh – we bring the Kingdom come
Oh – with every act of love
Jesus, help us carry You
Alive in us, Your light shines through
With every act of love
We bring the Kingdom come

Singer/Songwriter Jason Gray along with Jason Ingram

* ♥ ~ ✝ ~ ★ *

As I was listening to these lyrics, I realized that there is one act of love…in my opinion the greatest act of love…that makes all this possible. The one time that Heaven came to earth—the real reason we celebrate Christmas.

Look at the following verses:

Adam, the first man, was made from the dust of the earth,
while Christ, the second man, came from heaven.
1 Corinthians 15:47 NLT

He Who comes from above (heaven) is [far] above all [others];
he who comes from the earth belongs to the earth,
and talks the language of earth [his words are from an earthly standpoint].
He Who comes from heaven is [far] above all others.
John 3:31 AMP

Christ came from Heaven for us. No other reason. He brought His Kingdom to earth so that we might join Him one day in Heaven. Because He did, we who believe have Christ within us. We can let His light shine through us. In fact, 1 Corinthians 15:49 (AMP) states: “And just as we have borne the image [of the man] of dust, so shall we and so let us also bear the image [of the Man] of heaven.”

In Zechariah 7:9 (HCSB) we are given these instructions:

The Lord of Hosts says this: ‘Make fair decisions.
Show faithful love and compassion to one another.

And 2 Thessalonians 3:5a (AMP) says:

May the Lord direct your hearts into [realizing and showing] the love of God….

When we reach out with Christ’s unconditional love we bring a piece of Heaven to earth. It doesn’t have to be a big production. Simple words of kindness and forgiveness can have a huge impact. A small gesture like a smile or a touch could change a life. It is in the acts that come from the heart that others are able to see Christ’s heart. John 13:35 (HCSB) states: “By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” And, of course, Matthew 25:40 (HCSB) reminds us:

And the King will answer them, ‘I assure you:
Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.’

I want to carry Jesus alive in me. I want His light to shine through. I want to be the bridge that allows Heaven to touch earth once again.

* ♥ ~ ✝ ~ ★ *

Abba, I am so amazed by Your selfless act of unconditional, unfailing love. Let me carry You alive in me, allowing Your light to shine through me. Remind me that with every act of love, Heaven touches earth. In the precious name of Jesus I pray, Amen – IT IS SO!