Love Counts

The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.  Galatians 5:6

Loving can be a scary thing, because you are bound to get hurt. It takes a whole lot of faith in a God that you are convinced is out for your good to love others.  Jesus did.  It was in the washing of feet that we get to see Him loving His disciples knowing full well what they would do in a few hours.  That is where the faith comes in.  Faith to love because you know God loves you no matter what you may suffer at the hands of another.

The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus.  Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God;  so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist.  After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.  John 13:2-5

Jesus knew what was going to happen.  He knew that in a few hours Judas would betray Him.  Yet, He knew something more...that He had come from God and was returning to Him.  When we know that God has our back and that we go back to Him we can love others.  When we are sure of Who is behind us we can face the person in front of us.  Because all that really counts...all that really matters is to love God and others.  But you need a little faith to do that.  Faith in a Father.


We can't love others, whether they be friends or enemies, without a firm faith in who God is.  You can face a betrayer because you have a Father waiting in the wings to receive you.  This past year I have pondered two questions, "Would I have done what Jesus did?"  Love my betrayer...if I had known what was coming.  Sadly, I would have to say "no". I am not Jesus.  Not. Even. Close. And the second question...was it worth it?  Worth it to love those that would turn on me?  At first, I would have told you "no".  But that would be pain talking.  Yes, it was worth it.  Every bit of it.  It was worth it to love those that when it came to the end wouldn't love me back.  Because it is love that counts.  Love is all that matters.  Not being loved {we already have that in Christ to the full}, but loving God and others that really counts.

Love counts no matter what happens in the end.  Ask the Man with the towel wrapped around His waist.  It was worth it...every bit of it!

This year my Word of the Year is count.  Come count with me!