I confess that when I consider WHY I love who I love, the common denominator is disconcertingly clear: they all give me something! They give me love, they give me comfort, they give me encouragement, they give me a sense of purpose, they give me a feeling of security, they give me approval, and if I am totally honest, some even give me a sense of superiority. Wow!!- Is this REALLY love? Do I love to get things for me? — If none of these people gave me ANY of the things I’ve listed…would I still love them? – Or dare I ask the bigger question- Would I still love them if they TOOK things from me???…What if they took my joy, took my self-worth, took my reputation, took my possessions, took my well-being, took my dignity, took everything they could take from me? Could I honestly say that I loved them?
Picture this scene of a man and a crowd, if you will:
“They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him. And they began to call out to him, “Hail, king of the Jews!” Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spit on him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to him. And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.”
“And they crucified him. Dividing up his clothes, they cast lots to see what each would get. It was nine in the morning when they crucified him. The written notice of the charge against him read: the king of the jews. They crucified two rebels with him, one on his right and one on his left. Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, “So! You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, come down from the cross and save yourself!” In the same way the chief priests and the teachers of the law mocked him among themselves. “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! Let this Messiah, this king of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe.” Those crucified with him also heaped insults on him.” [Mark 15:17-20, 24-32]
And in the Man’s response, I witness Love:
“Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” [Luke 23:34a]
Can I even grasp this kind of Love? …Could I ever hope to love this way myself?
“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” [John 15:13]
Could I give my life for my friends?- to those I claim to love?
Could I love my enemies this way?
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” [Matt 5:43-48]
To what lengths have I gone to demonstrate my love, even to those who love me? Do I dare align my own definition of love with God’s?–
“Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” – Rom 5:7-8
No, I dare not. My definition falls far short.
“This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” [1 John 4:10]
Lord, I thank you for demonstrating what love really is to me. Help me, Father, to love as you do- unconditionally, humbly, mercifully, selflessly. Not to receive in return, but to give without expectation. Not because I am loved back, but because Your Love lives in me. By your power I can do all things! In Jesus’s Name. Amen!
(Bold and underline mine)
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It’s Valentine’s Day and I am thinking about love. Immediately, a little more than two handfuls of people come to my mind- my husband, my sons, my parents, my brother and a few very close relatives and friends. I contemplate to myself, “Why do I love these people?” Again, something immediately comes to mind…. can you guess what? Take a second to think of those people in your life that you love. I wonder if you arise at the same answer as me,… or if I am unique here! I would love to hear your comments.
Kisses from The King 