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| Love can be a one-way street |
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10:12 Sow for yourselves righteousness,
reap the fruit of unfailing love,
and break up your unplowed ground;
for it is time to seek the LORD,
until he comes
and showers righteousness on you.
This is a passage of scripture from which I draw strength whenever my efforts to bless someone else are met with…nothing.
That’s right, nothing in return. As in… zip, zilch, zero, nada! Affirmation is always wonderful, a pat on the back is nice, maybe a thank you, a smile or other sign of gratitude. Just a simple acknowledgement? Or how about anything at all! But sometimes all we get is... nothing. Does anyone like being ignored???
Yes it’s true, often we get nothing for our troubles. Either they don’t notice our effort, they’re too lazy, stubborn, resentful, or arrogant to acknowledge the blessing received, or maybe they’re just taking things for granted. Can people (including me) be that ignorant? Well yes, quite naturally (as in, sinful nature).
So maybe that’s what I should expect then. Nothing. As the lovelorn prophet Hosea wrote, “sow…righteousness”. Simply determine to do it. Like planting seeds, there’s no immediate reward. Sometimes there never is, or at least, as far as we sowers can tell. When we sow righteousness, we reap the fruit of his unfailing love. I gain the satisfaction of walking in step with the Holy Spirit, knowing my life is oriented in the right direction. And this reaping of the fruit of his love. Could that be anything like the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23)? How I would enjoy reaping love, joy, peace, patience, etc. in my life!
So something’s got to give, either we stop blessing people until they wise up and give us some acknowledgement and recognition, and perhaps return the favor, or we decide to break up our unplowed ground, our fixation on our own concepts of fairness, i.e. our hard hearts, and give the blessings anyway, in obedience to God, expecting nothing in return.
If we seek the Lord, what’s he gonna tell us? Plant the seeds, right? Give the blessings? Jesus did it, time and time again. What was his earthly reward? A cross. Am I better than him? Do I deserve more than my Savior???
But the best news is, eventually the Lord will indeed shower righteousness on us if we persevere, continually striving to do what is right before God without regard for the earthly rewards which may or may not come. But then, maybe God already has bathed us in righteousness? Maybe that’s the only reason any of us has the ability to bless others without the thought of receiving anything in return? Much like a one-way street, the love flows in one direction only. I wonder if God ever feels that way? |
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| To add a comment to "Love can be a one-way street" |
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| October 13, 2008 |
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I gain the satisfaction of walking in step with the Holy Spirit, knowing my life is oriented in the right direction. And this reaping of the fruit of his love. Could that be anything like the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23)? How I would enjoy reaping love, joy, peace, patience, etc. in my life!
That's Awesome. Me too would enjoy such reaping. Love Joy & Peace.
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| October 13, 2008 |
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| Awesome!!!! |
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| October 13, 2008 |
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| It is true.... our rewards are in heaven...but.... a thank you every now and then sure goes a long way to encourage us dosent it? So with that in mind, I want to thank you Mike. You have been a great encouragement to me. Your comments on my blogs have blessed me emensly. And the knowledge I have gained from reading your words cannot be measured. I have said it before and I will say it again.... you are a wise wise man full of kindness. I see Jesus in you and am glad you were one of the first people I came to know, even it it is just online, on MyChurch. Grace and peace and many many blessings to you my friend. |
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| October 13, 2008 |
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I love it when God draws my attention to something -- maybe a little cluster of flowers hidden away in the woods like a tiny treasure chest of beauty, or maybe it's seeing a bobcat in the distance or hearing the coyotes yodel each evening. Sometimes I get this realization that He orchestrated that just for me -- at just that moment! He made sure the flowers would bloom that specific day that I was traipsing through the woods and got my sneaker caught in a vine. :) He made sure Mr. Bobcat loped away -- close enough to see, but far enough to be safe! He knew I'd enjoy hearing the coyote serenade because my windows were open that particular night. Those may seem like small things that not everyone would enjoy, but to me they are like Valentines from God. I wish I could say that I notice and express gratitude for all His funny little Valentines...but I blow it more times than not. I am so thankful He does not get discouraged by my inattentiveness. |
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| October 14, 2008 |
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| Like I said before and will say it again you could be a preacher. |
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| October 14, 2008 |
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| Wonderful blog, Mike. Thank you for the spiritual food! |
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| October 14, 2008 |
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| I must admit Mike - this is one of your best blogs. With seeds that are planted, people don't get results straight away. But if people keep on planting, somethings bound to pop up. It just makes me wonder if people are prepared to wait, or like everything else in life - they want a return on their "investment" at the drop of a hat. Great blog Mike. Its one that makes you think. |
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| October 14, 2008 |
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| Mike this is awesome. I think of a few things ...One that we love Him because he first loved us, two the love of our children...when they came out just fussy crying lumps and the world was all about them in their eyes (and ours) and we changed our whole lives for them...we found them so adorable...we loved them first too and it was all worth it for the first smile and the engagement we felt to them...I don't believe I have ever been so exhausted or so in love as when I had my children and nursed them as infants and I would do it all again tomorrow for them too....I believe we all have our love stories with the Lord too how he wooed us and brought us to Him when we were the most unlovable some of us...Love is a powerful thing indeed and it is most powerful when it is undeserved, unwarranted, and truly genuine when you are not required to give anything in return, it is just given freely for no reason, just given. To me that is true love...the hardest to participate in, either as the receiver or the giver in all honesty but either way your life is honestly changed forever....what a great example Christ was of this love...and the Father as well... |
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| October 14, 2008 |
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| Mike- out of all the blogs you have written, this is one of the most timely and on point blogs I have read in a long time. (THE HOLY SPIRIT) HE is one of the keys used to help us along this path. |
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| October 14, 2008 |
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Mike, I love you and am one of your #1 fans, but love IS a one way street. The very nature of love is that it is unmerited and expects nothing in return. Of course, I am describing agape love, but is there really any of kind...anything else is just our wants and desires of our flesh... even though we may call it love. I want God's love to flow through me...I want to learn to love the way HE loves! |
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| October 14, 2008 |
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| I love your blogs Mike just like I love you man! Stu! |
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| October 14, 2008 |
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When it comes to doing the right thing without seeing rewards or fruit for my labor I always quote Galations 6 Do not grow wear in well doing but in due season we will reap if we don't faint. (lose heart) we will reap..that is a promise. May not always reap when I think I should, but it wiill come. Secondly I Cor 15:58 Therefore my bveloved bretheren stand fast unmovable always abounding in the work of the Lord knowing that you labor is not in vain in the Lord.
http://www.mychurch.org/blog/221083/What-Happens-When-I-Dont-See-Results
Love you Mike! |
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| October 14, 2008 |
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| For he/she who gives expecting nothing in return much is given back. Expect nothing and joyous will be your reward. If you give expecting back you have given nothing. |
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| October 14, 2008 |
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We are called to bless each other and as ungrateful as others may be it should not deter us from doing God's Will. In this flesh we EXPECT acknowledgement for the blessings that we give, but in the SPIRIT we know that God will answer our prayers for each other and acknowledgement is not important. I have struggled in the past and sometimes now with the ungratefulness of others, but what can we expect from our society as it is now????
We do the Father's Will and rejoice that he has blessed us to do so.... Treasures are in heaven...not here.
Amen Caleb !!! |
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| October 14, 2008 |
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Just finished reading the comments here, a huge hearty THANK YOU to each of you!! We ALL crave encouragement, affirmation, positive words. They motivate us, keep us going. We dry out, grow weary, question ourselves and others, when we feel unappreciated and ignored. QUITE A FEW people have lamented either being ignored or simply feeling ignored, as they have reached out to others. That includes bloggers on this website -- I think the feeling of being ignored is one of the main reasons people quit MyChurch. If you are reading this (or already did), I am praying for you, that you will feel appreciated in ALL that you do FOR GOD, reaping the fruit of his unfailing love!!! Keith, it's most definitely God's timing, this sat in a drafts folder for months, until drawn out by the Spirit. To God be the glory! |
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| October 14, 2008 |
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| Thanks Mike! |
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| October 14, 2008 |
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Sow for yourselves righteousness,
reap the fruit of unfailing love,
and break up your unplowed ground;
for it is time to seek the LORD,
until HE comes
and showers righteousness on you.
In due season HE comes with unfailing love and showers righteousness ... when we sow righteousness for ourselves... as promised in the above scripture (this comes to pass through the moments of prayer initially as Christ is our righteousness and seeds harvested and planted in prayer grow in His timing, according to HIS will and ultimate eternal purpose)
I hear ya mike... Personally I love to receive acknowledgements in the here and now from those around me... it encourages me, and I see that encouragement coming from HIM in them, but alas... such is not eternal... when I look to them first, I find their love fails me (my motive being impure) because only HE has unfailing love, and our righteousness comes through Christ ultimately, and not anothers acknowledgement or lack there of. In my own walk, during such moments, I discerned I must let go of my expectations, and interpretations of scripture with my fleshly 'need' I have to reap what I sow... in my timing and through the concepts of what I hoped would come... as HE continues to make me aware of my impure inner motives/fleshly understanding... and conforms me to the image of Christ. |
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| October 14, 2008 |
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| Brother Mike..I can most definately feel you on this one...Brother Todd took the words right out of my mouth..They are my sentiments exactly...and with that I keep pressing on...keeping my eyes on JESUS, the Author and Finisher of my faith ;o) |
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| October 14, 2008 |
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| great one Mike! |
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| October 14, 2008 |
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Mike and Laura, Are you guys thinking outside the bun? I love it. |
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| October 14, 2008 |
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You know Mike, sometimes, people don't know how to respond to love. There are people who have never been taught how to love or how to respond to love. A lot of people also don't trust love. Take for example me. Any time someone cries I always think "their manipulating me." Is that always true? no. But for the most part I don't trust it. For some to cry and make themselves vulnerable is a form of love. Let me tell you, I defintaley don't respond to it well. A lot of people are jaded and don't know that love can be real. They think it only as a means to an end.
My husband is always so careful to note that to me when I get upset about a lack of return. Or if I think that so and so is using our good nature. Or when we don't get help when we need it and yet we give it when we can.
It's iron sharpening iron Mike and sometimes it just sucks. LOL... |
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| October 14, 2008 |
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| I feel like I've got a bullseye on my head for this blog. |
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| October 14, 2008 |
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| I know how this one feels buddy. Have I told you lately that I appreciate you? I DO! And I love your blogs too!
Mark |
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| October 14, 2008 |
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| Everyone does like to be acknowledged for things we do, for the love we give. But I have learned to not expect it. What I have done, and what everyone should do, is to determine to do anything and everything in our lives for God, not for man. When I am helping someone, I do it because my Father wants me to and He takes pleasure in my actions, even if I get no gain here on earth from it. I am all about trying to please my Father than I am man. |
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| October 14, 2008 |
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WOW Mike you never cease to amaze me the way you can bring out a tough issue and bring reality to it in such a tenderhearted way! This statement is sooooooo POWERFUL: If we seek the Lord, what’s he gonna tell us? Plant the seeds, right? Give the blessings? Jesus did it, time and time again. What was his earthly reward? A cross. Am I better than him? Do I deserve more than my Savior???
WOW now there is a thought worthy of much contemplation! Thanks Mike! |
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| October 14, 2008 |
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Greetings Beloveds: Certainly one of the most overlooked statements of Jesus: Matthew 10:8 8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give. Let this be repeated: ...freely ye have received, freely give. This last weekend, as I moved a paralyzed woman from her bed in the dining area of her small duplex to a bed in an upstairs room, it would never have occurred to me to expect a thanks or a pat on the back. Why? Because I am no longer "me". When we take on the Life and Body of Christ - we no longer are who we were in the flesh: selfish, arrogant, self absorbed, self important... seekers of earthly things. We become selfless... loving and serving The Lord and loving and serving one another with no expectation of a reward of any kind whatsoever. When someone does thank me or offer something in return, I humbly lower my head, kindly decline, and point out - it simply is not me. And of course finally asking before leaving: Is there anything else that you need? Simply put: There is no "I" in Jesus. JamesAD62
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Live Jesus. Be Church. |
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| October 14, 2008 |
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| Good blog Mike, Some people don't know that THANK YOU, can go a long way, or in my case when I letter and stripe up fire trucks or ambulances, it always helps to hear what a good job I did. People need to be encouraged. |
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| October 14, 2008 |
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James, sounds like your death to self is nearly complete. Congrats!
Toni, thanks does go a long way. Though the real prize isn't what people can give us, but what God does. Right? This is what I continue to learn, slowly.....
Debora, that is a good point! Many people don't know HOW to respond. There are likely many reasons folks don't give us what we want, or think we need. Often it's not the reason we think it is.
Deb, we should be motivated by our Lord rather than men. Truth is most of us just aren't there yet. Thanks for your mature example!
Pastor Mark, a pleasant surprise! Thanks for droppin in!
Jerry, LOL
Loren, the conviction of the H.S. can be painful. (But pls don't think I wrote this to put a bullseye on anyone!) |
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| October 14, 2008 |
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Angela, thanks much for the affirmation, you always seem to be lifting someone up!
Todd, excellent scriptures (Marjay, I agree!). Thanks for the link, I don't know how I missed that one the first time around. Read (and starred) today. Always feel free to post links!!
All other commenters, thank you for your posts (don't have time to respond to the rest). I pray this encourages us all to comment/star freely, and to serve our fellow mankind w/o expecting anything less than to reap the fruit of our Father's unfailing love!!! |
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| October 16, 2008 |
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| Beautiful, Mike :) |
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| October 16, 2008 |
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Thanks Mike, I needed to hear this today!!! |
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| October 16, 2008 |
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This was awesome Mike. Ya done good! |
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| October 18, 2008 |
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If we seek the Lord, what’s he gonna tell us? Plant the seeds, right? Give the blessings? Jesus did it, time and time again. What was his earthly reward? A cross. Am I better than him? Do I deserve more than my Savior??? I will be chewing on this for a while! Thanks for the challenge Mike. I really needed to hear this. |
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| October 20, 2008 |
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| Great blog, Mike! There is a line in the new movie "Fireproof" about this very subject, and it is when Kirk Cameron's character finally "gets it," and accepts Christ as his Savior. Love IS sometimes a one-way street, and sometimes it has to be, but GOD sees our efforts. Thanks for this great Word! |
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| October 24, 2008 |
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Hey Mike,
I certainly can understand where you are coming from. I am married to an "unbeliever," so love is always a one way street; at least the kind of love I yearn for most from my husband.
I hope that I did not offend you the last time you commented on my blog. I'm pretty bad at humor. Maybe someday I will learn to stay away from it altogether....;)
Anyway, even after I outlined how I have disagreed with you and the choice I felt I had to make, you were very gracious to me...and even kept on supporting my writing. I thank you for the example; it is very rare.
You are appreciated, and I think that there is plenty of evidence to support that here on MC.
God bless you; this is an excellent blog. |
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| October 24, 2008 |
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Tonya, thanks for your comment. It means a lot to me! I admit that I took a gentle message from that comment you reference, but now suspect that there was no message intended -- i.e. I probably took it wrong. Thanks for letting me know. We don't have to agree on everything to be brother/sister. It is challenging, but I have actually continued many relationships w/people I disagree with. For example, our next door neighbors have several KEY doctrinal and practical differences with us, but we continue to go next door and fellowship and serve them. And we DON'T feel the need to correct them either, or draw attention to those differences. When we have love of Christ in common, that which we have in common is far greater than that which we don't!! (IMHO) Love to you, sister! |
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| October 24, 2008 |
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| You are a great man, and the Spirit within you is evident. God bless you, sincerely Mike. |
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| October 24, 2008 |
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Mike what a wonderful blog. and I feel bless anyway... why do we feel we have to get some thing back when we do good. we should do it for the Glory of God... Not to say I don't fall short on this, exspeacially with my family, I am trying to learn not to do this and I do think I am winning, but not perfectly... because when someones does acknowledges; it does mean something to me... isn't that doubled standard? lol I don't know?
Mike I love your heart, and how you make us think... it is good to be challenged. I learn a lot from you. your a good teacher. |
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| October 24, 2008 |
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Marilyn, it is such a blessing to know you! I'm glad you are so strong and able to remain content in knowing that you are doing right. Sometimes I find it easy to become discouraged, wondering if so and so even knows I am trying to reach out to them, wondering why they never acknowledge me, why they basically ignore me. Your motives are right, Marilyn, thanks for the great example! |
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| October 27, 2008 |
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| thanks for the great blog mike. |
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| March 22, 2009 |
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| Amen - |
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