Dustin Tavella is the winner of America’s got talent 2021. He’s a Christian and a magician. I watched all his performances during the course of the show and I was floored.

Yes, they were spectacular; quite unlike any magic performance I’ve seen before. But the performances in themselves were not really “it” for me. Nah. What I consider “it” for me was his enthusiasm; the way love bubbles out of him and his genuineness.

Throughout his performances, I don’t think he mentioned Jesus at all yet lives were transformed. He didn’t have to say it. His messages were clear and his actions backed them up accurately. Then there’s Nick Vuijic. Then there’s Yvonne Orji. What am I saying?

I’m saying we’re Living Testaments. There’s the Old Testament, New Testament and there’s us, Living Testaments. Dustin Tavella’s performances were intentional. It wasn’t just about winning for him. It was about sharing his life and love. There’s no way you’d honestly do this and not win. Of course, Yvonne Orji is not like every other actress in Hollywood but is she making waves or not?

And there’s Nick Vuijic, someone that could have decided to live his life feeling bad for himself and living off the encouragement of others but look at him; an encourager. No arms and no legs but so much love, so much life. I mean, what’s our reason for being nasty, selfish and defeated?

We need to learn to find love in the littlest things and express the love that has been shed abroad in our hearts. Why is John my favourite gospel? Why is John my favorite apostle? Love. The way he depicts the love of God is beautiful. It’s so beautiful it makes me ask the same question David asked in Psalms, “what is man that thou art mindful of him?”

Love of God. Love for God. Love for oneself. Love for one another. God is teaching me to step outside of myself for people. He’s teaching me that what matters is not my intelligence or giftings or talents. Neither is it my eloquence or proficiency in writing. It’s my why. Why do I do what I do? God gave his only son because he “so loved the world”. Jesus went about doing good because: compassion. Empathy. Now, I can trust that he understands exactly how I feel when I talk to him because he’s lived through what I live through.

So if I’m following Jesus, if my purpose is to be like him and impact lives like he did. I need to ask myself why? Will I only impact lives when it’s convenient and run away like an hireling when it isn’t or will I love regardless? If it isn’t for love, it’s all pointless and like Paul said, I’m just a noisemaker. If all I do isn’t done in and for love, I’m a sham because the Jesus I claim to look like is love personified.

Love for no reason. Give love. Receive love. Celebrate love. Promote love. Live love. Speak love. Love because you love. Yes, there are other things you’d see in people that’d make loving them easier and sweeter but even when it’s not there, love regardless. Make sure the love that has been shed abroad in your heart isn’t polluted by keeping your heart. Love genuinely, not by your efforts but by the Spirit of God.

Kelly Clarkson sang and I quote “I dare you to love”.