What if we had a check engine light to indicate how we perform in our love walk the way a vehicle’s check engine light reveals vital information about the performance of a car’s inner workings? Having an indicator like a check engine light could reveal what we are doing and what we are not doing. Understanding that the heart motivates actions illuminates the necessity to have a clean heart. As our actions align with God’s will, we have good success.

A valid reflection of what motivates our actions comes from the heart. In the same way that an engine drives the car, our behavior and actions result from the seat of our emotions, the heart. Actions follow the operation of the heart. We respond based on what is in the heart. An engine check light on the heart would give valuable information to the condition of the heart. The capacity to love resides in the heart.

Ways to see the Condition of the Heart

One can see the condition of the heart by tenderness. Often tenderness is visible when interacting with a baby, a young child, a loved one or even a puppy. Think about the last time you were in a situation where you saw a tender heart being expressed in actions. Think back to a time when you released tenderness. Those actions percolated up from the depths of your heart. Possibly no need for a check engine light there.

Is Something Missing?

It is possible when you drive your vehicle that the engine check light comes on to point out that there is something missing, something you are not doing that will reduce the performance of your vehicle, over time. We are to study to show ourselves approved. Being able to evaluate what we are missing is sometimes more valuable than what we are doing.

How do you treat those that are your enemies, those that speak ill of you? How do you treat those that persecute you? What about those that wish evil against you, the neighbors that are not so neighborly? Let us not leave out the co-workers that plot for your demise, nor the family members that seem to always rub you the wrong way. What behaviors do you respond with when faced with these individuals?

You may not have all of these situations however, God knew that you would have some of them from time to time. In His word in Matthew 5:44 we are advised to do the following in the words of Jesus:

“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;” (KJV)

The following Message Version excerpt beginning in verse 43, carries us through 47 of the same chapter:

“You’re familiar with the old written law, ‘Love your friend,’ and its unwritten companion, ‘Hate your enemy.’ I’m challenging that. I’m telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that.”

Check Engine Light

What was that flash? Did you see a check engine light illuminate? I saw one inside my heart recently when I read this scripture and meditated on the message that God would have me to get. I prayed and searched the scriptures to increase my capacity to love those that despitefully use and persecute me.

Did you get a warning that it is time to look more closely into your prayer life? Are you prepared to work on the possible cause of your check engine light? Are you willing to follow up on what activated the light? Do you desire to improve your performance for good success?

Do you proceed to operate your vehicle and ignore the check engine light? Will you ignore the check engine light that suggesting potential problems in your love life? Ignoring either light is dangerous. Time for a check on your capacity to love.

Take Inventory and Take Action!

Love,

Deborah

“Lighting the path to loving your neighbor as yourself.”