A Higher Call to Love

Warning: this post is going to be very candid and transparent.

As I've said before, I write my best when I feel "on fire"; when I've thought about something for too long without saying anything; when I feel EXTREMELY passionate about something. That said, guess what? This is one of those times.

Over the past months, I've witnessed a whole bunch of "dating relationships" fall apart. Most of these happened because two immature, too young, Jr. high/ High school kids thought they figured out what love is. Obviously, they were wrong and it all fell apart and now whenever any of them are together, it's just awkward and dramatic.

And to think it all could have been avoided...

ANYWAY, the point of this isn't to rail on those people. I'm here to present a solution... or at least part of what I think the solution is.

We are called to love, but not called to love as the world loves. We have a higher Calling to love each other as brothers and sisters.

We're all brothers and sisters in Christ, right? (The answer is yes, people...) So, why aren't we treating each other like it?! Why aren't we building each other up; why aren't we loving and encouraging each other like family? We should have a sacrificial love for each other. A love that we show with our actions, not just our words. We shouldn't have a "ME FIRST" attitude, but a genuine concern for each other.

1 John 3:16-18 tells us "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth."


 Believe it or not, loving each other as brothers and sisters is a command!

In John 13:34-35, Jesus says, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Romans 12:9-10 says, "Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves."

1 John 2:9-11 also says " Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness. Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble. But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them."

Galatians 6:10 states that, "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers."

We should be "sharpening each other." We should be looking out for each other. We should be praying for each other. Helping each other up when we fall. We should be doing what Proverbs 27:17 mentions:  "As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another."

"So, Kandis," I can hear you asking, "How would loving each other like that solve the problem?"

If we saw each other as brothers and sisters, we would know how we were supposed to be treated: with respect. If we loved each other in that way, I think we would see an amazing change. There would be SO MUCH LESS DRAMA!

What if we could all just relax when we're with each other? What if we could be ourselves and just have fun around each other?

Guys, the girls of this generation are longing for that kind of love and respect. Someone has got to step up.

Girls, we have to step up and do the same. Stop the stupid drama! Stop looking for love in all the wrong places.

Really, isn't  the way that God intended our relationships to be in the first place?

Okay, I'll get off my soapbox for now. Seriously, though, the world needs examples of Christ's love and if we don't step up and be the examples and love each other as Christ loves us, who will?