WEEKLY PURSUIT with Ryan

Helping you pursue God, people, and purpose - one step at a time.

ryanspencerlutz.com

Hey friend,

Loving people is risky.

Not because love is weak.
Because people are.

Sometimes you pour into someone for years... and they walk away.
Sometimes you believe in someone before they believe in themselves... and they forget the people who helped them stand.
Sometimes you forgive. You encourage. You sacrifice. You show up. You pray. You carry burdens that aren't yours to carry.

And in return?

Silence.
Distance.
Disappointment.

If you've ever been there, you know the temptation.

To love a little less.
To protect your heart a little more.
To keep people at arm's length because it hurts less than being let down again.

But as I was thinking about this this week, the Holy Spirit wouldn't let me stay there.

He gently reminded me that while I've certainly been hurt by people... I've also been on the receiving end of incredible love that I've taken for granted.

I've been loved by parents who sacrificed for me.
By friends who showed up when they didn't have to.
By mentors who invested in me.
By people who believed in me long before I believed in myself.

And if I'm honest, I haven't always stopped to appreciate those gifts the way I should have.

Then my mind went somewhere even deeper.

I've done the same thing with Jesus.

I've received grace I didn't earn.
Patience I didn't deserve.
Mercy that never ran out.

His love has remained steady, even when my affection has drifted.

That's when I was reminded of one of the most beautiful words in the New Testament: agape.

Here's how I like to define it:

Selfless, sacrificial action for the good of someone else.

Did you notice what's missing from that definition?

Anything about what you get back.

Agape doesn't depend on someone deserving it.
It doesn't wait until it's appreciated.
It doesn't keep score.

It simply chooses the good of another.

And no one demonstrated agape better than Jesus.

Jesus washed Judas' feet.
Before he betrayed Him.

Jesus called Peter the rock.
Not after Peter proved himself faithful.
Before Peter denied even knowing Him.

Jesus went to the cross.
Not because we would always follow Him.
Because He knew we wouldn't.

He knew we would drift.
He knew we would fail.
He knew we would run.

And He loved us anyway.

That's agape.

That's the kind of love that changed the world.

The truth is, we don't love people because they'll always love us back.
We don't serve because people will always appreciate it.
We don't forgive because everyone deserves it.
We love because we've been loved first.

The love of Jesus doesn't just save us.
It becomes the source from which we love everyone else.

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Weekly Resources

Run Your Race Better | Week 8 Life has a way of distracting us. Disappointments, comparison, fear, success, failure, and even good things can pull our attention away from what matters most. But Hebrews 12 reminds us that the Christian life isn't a sprint - it's a race of endurance. Available on Youtube

TN Running Back DeSean Bishop Urges People To Pursue a Relationship With Christ by Stephanie Martin | churchleaders.com Read Here

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So here's my challenge for you this week:

Before you think about the people who've disappointed you...
Remember the people who've loved you.

Before you focus on the love that wasn't returned...
Remember the love you've received.

And above all, remember Jesus.

The One who loved you before you loved Him.
The One who stayed when you wandered.
The One who chose the cross knowing exactly who you would be.

His love is the reason we can love others.

So this week...

Love someone who can't repay you.
Serve someone who may never notice.
Forgive someone who doesn't deserve it.
Not because they'll change.
But because that's exactly how Jesus has loved you.

Go love like Him.

Praying,
Ryan