Error On The Side of Love

Mel’s Blog

ERROR ON THE SIDE OF LOVE

I wrote a snippet the other day for our Sanctioned Love Media platforms. It comes from a personal statement I have stood on for many years in my efforts to grow in prayer ministry. Whether it is a prayer for a brother or sister that I know or for an individual I have never met either way, it always takes my willing heart to trust the leading of the Holy Spirit. As a Jesus lover, I never want to pray for others in His name and be amiss. But let’s face it, I am often just doing my best. I do not always know facts or their needs, but I do know that Jesus is always the answer. So I respond. 

I purpose to respond to an individual who has a need by praying for them as an act of love and brotherhood. This response, this act,  is not just for them or for me, but it is most definitely to lift up the name of Jesus. Sometimes these needs are very great, and I feel that I should pray for them the way I would want to be prayed for–someone who is thoughtful, willing to listen, and would take the time to speak loving-kindness with the Holy Spirit’s care. 

Below is the statement I mentioned earlier. It is a personal statement that has helped me to keep willing and active in the open exposure of the prayer ministry.

“As believers, we are all practicing our walk with God, and we do miss it and fall short to errors. So if you do error, error on the side of love, for love will always make a way.”

Let me give you an example of a time a few weeks ago when I was traveling back from a Sanctioned Love Event. I stopped at a rest stop about midway home. As I was coming out of the restroom, there was a woman who was also exiting. I only saw her from the back as her (I assume) husband took her arm to help her walk to their car. The first thought I had was that this woman had a spirit of infirmity on her. I paused to ask the Holy Spirit about this and then lingered to see if He wanted to direct me. I heard,  “It doesn’t matter right now if it is a spirit of infirmity; what matters is that she is in pain, so step out and offer to pray for her.”  I stood for a moment as her husband assisted her into the backseat of their vehicle. When he came around to get in the driver’s seat, I walked towards him and spoke.

“Sir, excuse me, but I noticed your wife was having difficulty walking out of the women’s restroom, and I wondered if I could pray for her?”

He frowned protectively at me as he said with a defensive voice, “We do our own praying!”

I responded gently, “ Yes, sir, I understand, I just noticed she was in great pain, so I wanted to offer.”

He softened. “Yes, she has been having back pain for a month now.”

“Oh, I’m so sorry to hear that; I will pray for her today while I am driving home.” He actually thanked me as he climbed into his car. 

This could be considered an error on my part as he did reject my offer, but I knew that as he drove away that he had to be thinking that there is still love in this world. I errored, but I erred on the side of love.

I am sure that I have not always hit the nail on the head in praying for someone. I am sure I have not always understood all they were going through, but one thing I purposefully do in Jesus’ matchless name, is to put His love into action. Love is not easy, love costs, love is vulnerable, and my love is more than imperfect, but Jesus’ love is perfect love.

In 1 Peter 4:8 (AMP), it says,

“Above all, have fervent and unfailing love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins” [it overlooks unkindness and unselfishly seeks the best for others].

Jesus gives us an important teaching in the gospel of Luke. It’s the parable of the Good Samaritan. Here is a man who took the time to care, a man who opened himself up to serve in love even though he was a Samaritan walking through a street in Jerusalem. Jews did not like Samaritans, yet this man did the right thing for the right reason. A man who came upon a dangerous situation where there was room for great error. Yet he went the extra mile and stood on the side of love, even an act of love to a complete stranger. 

Luke 10:25-37 

One day, an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “What is written in the Law?” Jesus replied. “How do you read it?” The teacher answered, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind and love your neighbor as yourself.” “You have answered correctly,” Jesus said. “Do this, and you will live.” But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus took up this question and said, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. Now by chance, a priest was going down the same road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. So too, when a Levite came to that spot and saw him, he passed by on the other side. But when a Samaritan on a journey came upon him, he looked at him and had compassion. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Take care of him,’ he said, ‘and on my return, I will repay you for any additional expense. Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers? The one who showed him mercy” replied the expert in the law. Then Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” 

(Often, the word mercy is translated as loving-kindness)

So as you journey forward, do not be afraid to try, do not be afraid you may fall short and do not be afraid to error; you don’t have it all, but Jesus does, so if you error, error on the side of love, because God’s Love, His perfect love, never fails. 

By His Courage,

 Melissa Norris