Love

Since Dustin has been teaching at Porter, one thing I've learned to focus on is love. I've learned what love is and what it isn't. I've learned things I can do to love people more. I've began to pray that God would help me love for the sake of pointing people back to Him. Yet, this Monday I failed miserably.
You see, I had the opportunity to prove my love for a brother was without hypocracy, as put in Romans 12:9. I had the opportunity to show mercy with cheerfulness, not expecting anything in return from the person with whom the mercy would be shown. I had the opportunity to practice unblemished hospitality while helping a brother in need, yet I did not do it.
This brother was in need. He needed food. He needed a place to rest. He needed love. He needed things I could give to him, yet I failed him. You see, after many options were gone through as to how we would provide for him did I finally open myself up to him. Instead of instantly hearing his needs and loving him, I tried to put it off because it would cost me time, food, and trust. I had things to lose yet a brother to gain, but I first to chose the easy route instead of putting myself on the line for him. Finally, I took him in and loved on him, but it was delayed instead of instant.
This bothers me. How could I not forsake all for him? How could I not be willing to sacrifice 5 bucks of food, a shower, and a spot on my couch that nobody uses at night for a brother in Christ who needed help? Of all the things I've learned in the past few months, why could I not do them? Even though he was ministered to, I still sinned. And, that absolutely frustrates me. Why did I not love without hypocracy?

"And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing. Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails" 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

God, help me learn to love for your glory.