Monday, June 3, 2013

By: Rachelle Hitt Bilbo

Lip Service

Proverbs 16:13 Kings take pleasure in honest lips; they value the one who speaks what is right.

Upon ending a phone conversation with one of my co-workers, I said, "Alright, thanks for your help. Love you, bye." A split second passed, and I realized that I told this man - whom I barely know - "I love you." Of course, God instructs us to love our neighbors, and while I do, I typically don't end a phone conversation with someone I don't know with those precious words.

However, I said those words to him out of habit. When I hang up with my parents, husband or close friends, I always end with "I love you." So, it kind of just came out!

Especially since this co-worker of mine is extremely introverted, everyone around the office got a good laugh at the expense of my verbal blunder.

Having said those words so frivolously and with no thought, I considered if the ones I speak those words to daily truly understand my love for them. I believe saying, "I love you" should just be a starting point. How much more powerful would those words be if they were followed by some of the reasons we loved those special people in our lives?

For example, when I slow down, look my husband in the eyes and say, "I love you....thank you for being such a wonderful provider" those words not only affirm my love for him but gives him personal confidence and security in our relationship.

In Isaiah 29:13, God expresses His desire for more out of His relationship with His children than simply religious rituals. He says, "These people say they are mine. They honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. And their worship of me is nothing but man-made rules learned by rote"

Despite your specific denomination, there are things we probably all do - prayers we pray and songs we sing - consistently each week or day that could become repetitious and meaningless if we don't evaluate our hearts and truly consider what we're saying.

If we were to all be honest, I am sure there have been times in church where we were praying or singing while thinking about the roast cooking at home...

I challenge you today to express your love for your family, friends and God a little deeper. Let them know WHY you love them and what a gift they have been to you.

Dear Lord, I love You with everything in me. You are an amazing Father and constant Friend. Without You, I would have no hope.

I thank You, my Jesus, for dying for me. I believe that You are Lord and that God raised You from the grave so that I can have eternal life.