Morning Coffee with Jesus - January 6, 2010
Greetings loved ones!
Today’s “Morning Coffee with Jesus” comes from John 13:34-35. "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."
Recently on a pre-Christmas shopping trip, my friend needed to stop at an ATM machine. Because easy access to money is too much of a temptation for me, I don’t use an ATM. Still, I know that when you go to an ATM and insert a card you have two basic options - deposit or withdrawal.
Relationally and spiritually speaking, when I make a deposit in a life of another person I am honoring love. A “deposit” might be as simple as my helping a friend by hemming a pair of jeans or running an errand for her. I am adding value to that relationship by giving of myself. Blessed by my actions, I too am blessed because I know she appreciates my assistance.
Withdrawal, on the other hand, is me taking away value from that relationship. Broken promises, possessing a critical spirit when a caring heart is what another person needs at any given moment, these actions an attitudes devalue the relationship and eat away at the “love” reserves.
There is a third thing you can do - check your balance. You cannot take for granted the amount you THINK is in your account. If there is a vast difference between your actual and perceived reserves guess who loses? Not just the person checking the balance but every person with whom you have a relationship where emotional energy is expended. Every relationship has kind of a “running balance.” Just as surely as you have a balance in your financial accounts, it is true in your relational life too.
Today, ask your spouse or other loved ones the question, “How are we doing? Do you feel loved by me?” Respond in kind to your spouse or loved ones honestly and openly and work through the differences with patience, understanding and a whole lot of prayer. Then make a habit of “checking your balance” on a monthly basis. You’d be amazed at how those “love reserves” build up over a few months of focused attention.
How important is it to know the difference between a deposit and a withdrawal? Very important because only withdrawing from the “love reserves” will eventually leave you relationally bankrupt and that is never what God intends for us!
Have an awesome day in Jesus. Go MAD in someone’s life today!
Stay sweet,
stay broken,
stay His!
Blessings,
E