Love as seen in Jesus and described in Scripture is something to be worked into our hearts and into our very bones. It needs to become a part of who we are, and we a part of what it is. This is possible in God; in the love of God in Christ; in the love of God in Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
I think a good question to ask in our lives, especially when we meet up against inevitable difficulties, what does this love look like here? We need to get into Scripture to see that, especially looking at the life of Jesus in its entirety. In that we can see and find and participate, by grace in this same love.
Love enables us to hang in there through the most difficult and trying times and troubles. When we would in our old selves simply have a meltdown or drop out, this love helps us to stay put, seeking to live out God's call to us in Christ through everything.
This is a call, at its heart to love God with all our being and doing, and to love our neighbor as ourselves. This will mean some creativity and much patience, endurance and perseverance- all born of prayer to the God who is love. This love is beyond us, we don't have it; but it is a gift from God and a gift as we seek to follow on with the Lord, staying in communion with his people in mission to all other fellow sinners in this world.
What about you? How has God helped you to live in this love that is beyond us and live it out in your life?
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8 comments:
I agree that Love helps us hang in there.
I've also been musing about the role of creativity (which you begin to discuss here). I've been wondering if people who tend to melt down suffer from a lack of creativity. I guess the thought came to me when I considered my friend who rearranged the funeral flowers (current post on S). This was her creative way to begin touching the pain and walking through it.
L.L., Good thought. I do think one could work on avoiding a nonanswer by praying and thinking scripturally along creative lines. What possibilities exist here so that we can show love during this troubling time, or difficult time to do so? Just as in your friend's case.
You are quite the thinker Ted. I really appreciate your blog and look forward to checking it on a daily basis.
This was a gem.
JP, Thanks for your very gracious comment. We all have special gifts from God simple as they may be; they're still special because they're from God.
I also appreciate the way you work on things on your blog. We have to keep working at it, I think.
Ted -- As I was first reading your post, I was thinking of the love I show others. What that kind of love looks like. But on a second reading, and as I connected with the things that are going on in my life, I started thinking more about the love God shows me. What does it mean for to believe God really loves me when I face great difficulties or challenges? Sometimes I just lie down with my eyes closed and pray the Jesus Prayer and remember that I am greatly loved by a great God. Then, I avoid the meltdown and am able to love on others with a greater love than I could ever muster on my own.
Charity,
Great point and indeed this love is in and from God only. We need to learn to live in this love as God's dearly loved children and out from that our lives will be expressions of God's love.
With His gift of the Holy Spirit.
Nancy, That reminds me of the fruit of the Spirit: love, etc.
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