So I know I haven't posted on here for a while, mainly because I've started another blog and that's been my main blog for a while, but I felt the need to write a post mid-week. I can't do that on the other blog because that's only supposed to be once a week.
So I've been struck by a different meaning of the word "Love." What is meant when we say it, and what is understood when we hear it. So here I am, at my usual time of night where I come alive and say weird things and think weird thoughts. And I start talking about love. You may think "Hmm...Love. I like being loved." Well what do you think of when you say the word "love"? Do you mean people enjoy your presence and talking to you? Do you mean having the feeling of being wanted? Do you mean the joy of people telling you that you look good? I was reading a devotional this past week about "Love." I wrote about it on my other blog. Here's the link: http://52weekjorney.wordpress.com/2013/03/04/week-nine-new-understanding-of-the-word-love/
I'll wait while you read it.
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You done yet?
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How about now?
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Okay. Cool. You're done.
Now you see why my head is spinning. I guess I never really looked at the command to love others that way. It's strange to think that when we love others, we're displaying God's likeness. So what does the word Love mean in this sense? How does it work, this "love" thing? Gosh, I could spend hours on this topic. But I probably shouldn't. So I'm just going to put SOME of my thoughts down on "paper" (so to speak). If I put all of them, we would both be here all night.
1. Love is un-separatable. I'm not even sure that's a word, but the idea is written in Romans 8:38-39. "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Paul is basically saying that NOTHING EVAR is going to separate us from God's Love. Whoa. That's an intense Love.
2. Love is Merciful. I know that's a word. But really. Titus 3:4-5 tells us this. "But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy..." So we didn't have to do anything to earn God's love. He created us and He said that we were good. We may be broken now, but He still loves us. Stew on that for a minute. We don't deserve His love, but He gives it to us freely. Wow! That thought alone should wreck us. We don't deserve love, but we get it anyways because we were created in God's image. And as we know God is love, so we were created in the image of Love.
3. Love is Forgiving. If that last thought doesn't wreck you, this should. Because it did me at one point. Luke 23:34 "Jesus said, 'Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.' And they divided up his clothes by casting lots." Wow. Okay, so if you don't know the Passion story, read Luke 19:28-24:53. Right now. And don't come back till you're done. I'll put a couple of stars in the paragraph to let you know where you left off. ************ Okay. So now that you've read the Passion story, let's get back to thinking about the forgiveness that Jesus was asking for. He was being put to death, but He still forgave the people putting Him up to it. Wow. Just wow. I am amazed at the extent of Forgiveness being extended here. He was forgiving the people who were trying to kill Him. How many times do we put God on a back burner and forget about Him? Per day? Per hour? Yet He still loves us. Wow.
Now think about people you love. Or even things you "love." Would you be able to say the same things about them? Would they be able to love you like God does? How about your love for them? Do you love them the way God loves us?
Well, it's getting late and I need to sleep. So I'm calling it a night. Besides, if I don't go to bed right now, I'm not going to bed tonight. Good Night! God Bless!
