Just the other night, I was watching a Christmas movie with a scene of unrequited love. Although I’ve seen this movie at least 50 times, I still cringe when the main actor says, “I am in love with you…” and he is met with total silence. I know the ending, (they do in fact, fall in love), and yet I still sit there with total shock and heartbreak. It’s downright painful to watch, I think because many of us have lived through this conversation and never want to feel it again!
But on Sunday, I have to admit, I was taken aback when this type of scene was played out by Pastor Jason between God and us. I never thought of it that way before…the God of the universe professing His love in an act of total sacrifice of His own Son…only to be met by silence, with no real response.
I started to wonder…how must that break His heart? How must that feel…for Him?
In a loving relationship, you not only want to hear the words, “I love you” but you want to see it in action. You want to truly believe this person loves you in return.
It reminds me of this verse in 1 John 3:18; “Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and truth.” (ESV)
If I really want God to know I love Him, I can’t just tell Him, I need to show Him. This isn’t to put pressure on us, but instead, to remind us of why we do the things we do…why we sacrificially serve our families, why we get up and go to work even when it’s the last thing we want to do, why we provide and lead even when we are all alone in doing what’s right.
All of these things are, at the heart, an outpouring of love to the One who first loved us.
It makes them easier, doesn’t it? It’s easier to do these things when we realize the Who behind it. Our hearts are lighter because we are not just serving people, we are serving the One who makes our soul sing in worship.
It’s in these moments where the eternal meets the mundane. That’s where working tasks become heavenly assignments. Where we start to see beyond the meals served, rides given, hours clocked in, and time spent.
Honestly, it’s where the Christian life gets really good. If we can hold a heavenly mindset for seemingly mundane things, our perspective on life will ultimately carry greater purpose.
Will it still feel hard and boring and unappreciated at times? Absolutely. But will we even when it’s hard, feel the motivation to keep serving and going because we know Who we do it for? Without a doubt, yes.
In the aftermath of the holidays, you might be left with a lot of the mundane. Can I gently challenge you to see it differently? As we learned Sunday, let’s lean in and listen to His gentle whisper, that calls to us like the wind.
Let’s let Him lead us, guide us and show us what’s next.
But on Sunday, I have to admit, I was taken aback when this type of scene was played out by Pastor Jason between God and us. I never thought of it that way before…the God of the universe professing His love in an act of total sacrifice of His own Son…only to be met by silence, with no real response.
I started to wonder…how must that break His heart? How must that feel…for Him?
In a loving relationship, you not only want to hear the words, “I love you” but you want to see it in action. You want to truly believe this person loves you in return.
It reminds me of this verse in 1 John 3:18; “Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and truth.” (ESV)
If I really want God to know I love Him, I can’t just tell Him, I need to show Him. This isn’t to put pressure on us, but instead, to remind us of why we do the things we do…why we sacrificially serve our families, why we get up and go to work even when it’s the last thing we want to do, why we provide and lead even when we are all alone in doing what’s right.
All of these things are, at the heart, an outpouring of love to the One who first loved us.
It makes them easier, doesn’t it? It’s easier to do these things when we realize the Who behind it. Our hearts are lighter because we are not just serving people, we are serving the One who makes our soul sing in worship.
It’s in these moments where the eternal meets the mundane. That’s where working tasks become heavenly assignments. Where we start to see beyond the meals served, rides given, hours clocked in, and time spent.
Honestly, it’s where the Christian life gets really good. If we can hold a heavenly mindset for seemingly mundane things, our perspective on life will ultimately carry greater purpose.
Will it still feel hard and boring and unappreciated at times? Absolutely. But will we even when it’s hard, feel the motivation to keep serving and going because we know Who we do it for? Without a doubt, yes.
In the aftermath of the holidays, you might be left with a lot of the mundane. Can I gently challenge you to see it differently? As we learned Sunday, let’s lean in and listen to His gentle whisper, that calls to us like the wind.
Let’s let Him lead us, guide us and show us what’s next.
Erika Pizzo
Erika is an author of various books on the topics of faith, mental health, and victory in Christ. Erika lives with her husband, daughter, son, and their fluffy poodle in sunny Southern California. Her two favorite things are a visit to the beach and a chai latte in hand.