“So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.
For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers. For you know how, like a father with his children, we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.”

“For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? For you are our glory and joy.”
1 Thessalonians‬ ‭2‬:‭8-12, 19-20‬ ESV

When you work in an office, you can usually leave work at work, and it doesn’t really follow you home. When you work in a factory, your labor takes place inside the walls of that facility and nowhere else. When you work in a school, the students don’t follow you home (although you may still do grading there.) One of the defining characteristics of work is that it takes place in a certain place at a certain time and then you leave it where it is…in theory.

But when it comes to our walk with Christ, and as that walk translates into our call to GoLove others in His Name, sharing the Gospel with them, we find that there is no ‘leaving work in the office.’ We cannot turn off our caring and service and love and concern simply because they may not be with us for the moment.

Why?

Because that’s not the way love works. Love isn’t stuck in any one time or place. It doesn’t go away when you aren’t near that person. It doesn’t stop just because you are in one place doing one thing and they are in another doing something else.

Love means there is no judgment of distance or time that can stop you from thinking about that other person. And in sharing Christ, that love and concern we have for others functions the same way. Either your love for them in Christ is real, or you have been acting insincerely toward them, and are really more focused on self or are distracted by something else. Athens t you value more than them.

Why do so many people who claim Christ never invite anyone else to church, or bible study and share the Good News of salvation with them? Can it be that their love is so cold that they simply do not feel compelled to make the effort? Could it be that their love is do distracted and self-focused that they believe this world is worth more attention than the souls of other people?

What is it that drives us to claim Christ, but not live the love He has placed in our hearts?

Selfish, sinful pride. Self-lust. Fear and a lack of trust in God and His power. Unbelief and/or selective faith. We want to be saved but not do anything else required of us. And this is no love to live this way.

True love is consuming. True love is lived out. True love causes you to give yourself up for others. True love is sacrifice and service and and a constant remembering of those who would receive it. True love dies to self.

If we are going to represent Christ. We need to die to self, carry the burdens of others and trust in the power of God to move. GoLove in all sincerity. GoLove in a wholeness of heart. Just go and truly love in Christ’s precious Name.