July 7th to 13th

Centre

A relay of love

“Whoever loves God must also love his brother.” (1 John 4:21)

Have you ever loved someone?

The one who loves doesn’t count, he’s ready for anything. Some people are ready to move to another country,  to  deny  their  family,  to  change nationality or culture… to reach or to find love. Others are ready to offer excessive gifts to demonstrate their love.

“It seems that the heart has its reasons that reason ignores”.

For  example,  I  remember  that  when  I  wanted to seal my engagement, I wanted to give my beloved an engagement ring. The value of the ring was beyond what I had as a student, but I wanted to  mark  the  occasion.  So  I  went  on  a  grape-harvesting  trip  (which  I’d  never  done before) before my final exam to please the woman who is now my wife.

–     What defines love ?

Love  requires  at  least  two  people.  Love,  in  the sense of loving someone, is a choice and an act. We choose to love someone, and this choice is put into action. The sacrifices I make for the people I love are not the same as the sacrifices I make for other people, depending on the bond that unites us.1 Corinthians 13:7 says : “Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things,  endures  all  things.”  For  example,  I’m  willing  to  get  up  every  3  hours  for  my newborn  baby  when  he  wakes  up  crying,  but  am  I  willing  to  do  it  every  day  for  my work colleague?

–     Why love in this way ?

I love this way because someone else did it for me (my father, my mother… my creator). God is the source of our love. He loved us to the point of sacrificing his son for us. Jesus is for us the illustration of what it means to love (John 3 v 16).

–     How to love ?

This  is  not  a  commercial  love,  where  love  is  bought  and  sold  according  to  the fluctuating value  of  our  gifts.  Depending  on  merit,  the  value  of  the  gift  changes.  I give  my  love  in exchange for something in return. We don’t give our love to expect something in return. It’s not  because  we  love God that God loves us in return. No, 1 John 4:10 “And love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us (CHOICE) and sent His Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins (ACT).” He is the one who loved us first.

–     What are the consequences of a loving act and choice?

“Whoever loves God must also love his brother” (1 John 4:21). This is God’s first and second commandment (Matthew 22:37).

God’s love is the source of all human love, and it spreads like fire. By loving his children, God lights  a  flame  in  our  hearts.  In  turn,  we  love  others  who  are  warmed  by  the  divine love poured  out  through  us.  It’s  a  relay  of  love.  Christ  is  the  light  of  the world, and for Him to illuminate the lives of others, we must pass on the torch to others after receiving it. We can illustrate this with our telephones or candles (depending on the configuration of the room).

Specific prayer: I pray that the Région Centre, which is hosting us and the participants in this meeting, will be a relay of love for all those who come into contact with them from near or far. The Bible says that he who waters, is watered. May the seed of love we have received waters the lives of all the residents of this region, so that the Name of Jesus may shine forth forever.

Personal profile: Berengeyh Mayombo is Married with three children. Professor of  economics and  social  sciences  in  Reims.  Moov’s  national  sports  referent  and  soccer referee.