As can happen sometimes with my Catches that I post late, my wife looks at them the following morning and mentions something like, “This is very good…” and then proceeds to point out 8 things she would have done differently. And as usual, Marti’s changes are brilliant, and often based on her identification with non-Christians and my inability to see outside the evangelical box I grew up in.
In this case, her points are so excellent, I have to share a few of them with you. For instance, instead of “Tell her I love her,” though the sentiment is right, God is much more likely to say to us, “Tell her you love her.” The issue is the transforming power of the Spirit through us as we reach out and touch another human being.
Which is easier to say, “God loves you,” or “I love you”? Which is more involving? Which leaves you more vulnerable? Which means connecting with another human being? Let’s face it, we aren’t standing in for the Holy Spirit, we are the Holy Spirit, or perhaps I should say, the Holy Spirit “R” us. The Holy Spirit is in us and working through us. Does that mean we have to be perfect? Far from it. It means we show up and act. We are the verb of the gospel sentence. Get out there; jump in with people; connect. Come out of our isolation. God will use whomever shows up, in whatever condition they show up in.
There is need for only one cross with one man to die on it, and one Son of God… the man, Jesus, who left one Holy Spirit behind to live and move through everyone who believes. The rest is up to us to believe and act on.
John Fischer The Catch 
I thought this was good: “Tell her I love her” Yet sure enough, Marti’s in-sight made it sooooo much better: “Tell her you love her.”
It is not only brilliant but the right thing to do. I’ve started telling my Bible Study ladies “I love you”. I didn’t use to do this as I thought I don’t know them well enough, but it’s not me, it is God in me, and He does love them through me. It’s not about me, but about Him and He is in me. Thank you so much for your daily devotionals, always something to think about.
God definitely loves you and so do I.
The above is great too… 🙂
In preparing for an upcoming Prayer & Testimony Service I am using Mathew 5: 13-16. As I was giving this scripture prayerful consideration, I asked for insight on how to present it anew. The inspiration came, tell them – YOU are the salt and YOU are the light. Jesus was handing it over to us at that point. Saying “God loves you” is great, but comprehending what Jesus said, saying “I love you” is even greater, now that you realize the source of that love and the power of that gift.
Sometimes we spend too much time on defining salt and light and forget that the who is YOU. Your post just confirmed what the Spirit had opened my mind to. God is good.
Very cool. I love it when that happens!
It is true that it is God who loves through us. Our job in the world is to point to Jesus Christ and not to ourselves. We are to disappear and believe God will do the rest. Isn’t it more important to know they are cherished by their creator?
Mary Southerland from “Girlfriends in God” told the story last week of a teen-age girl who had been hurt and embarrassed by what a teen boy had said in front of others. Mary witnessed this girl embrase the boy who hurt her and tell him that she loves him. Not with her own love but with God’s love that has no bounds. What an amazing capacity of love that God gives us if we are willing to allow it and accept it into our hearts.
Thank you John for reminding that we are supposed to love people to God.
good thought ~ i need to remind myself often, though, that the word “in” is crucial here, lest i become presumptuous … the Holy Spirit is indeed (and oh, so thankfully!) IN us, but amazingly, He waits for our humble plea that He fill and direct and use us each day to give us His eyes, His words, and His heart TO love that one standing next to us. what an incredible, improbable, risky plan the Lord has established with His people! i am not Him and He is not me, as all too many days in my journey with Jesus have borne out along the way. but a yielded heart looks an awful lot LIKE Him. and hopefully more and more each day. 🙂
Go, Marti!