Love is tough. It can fill you with butterflies and excitement or leave you anxious and worried. I have learned so much more about love since my first child was born. Sometimes love is doing hard things, things that hurt momentarily, but eventually teach a valuable lesson in the end. Parenting is one of those tough kind of loves. You have so much responsibility in training up your children in the way they should go. You're met with obstacle after obstacle, resistance and rejection. You make mistakes along the way, too. Sometimes we have to apologize to our children for the things we don't yet understand and are learning ourselves.
There is one type of love that we can always lean on and draw strength from. God's love is faithful and enduring. The Bible is full of ways that God has proved His love for us over and over again, no matter how many times we turn from Him. God's love is transformative and life-saving.
"This is my command: Love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this: to lay down his life for his friends.
John 15:12-13
Jesus was the visual representation of God's love. He was sent in love to show us the depth of God's love for us. Jesus has existed with God since the beginning of time, so He is true Love Himself. Love brought Him to us that first Christmas Day, love led Him to the cross, and love will mark His return to us for His second advent!
"...Her many sins have been forgiven; that's why she loved much. But the one who is forgiven little, loves little.
Luke 7:47
Love is so much more than a warm, fuzzy (sometime nauseating) feeling. Love is ACTION. Jesus' redeeming love compels us to do something. The woman in Luke 7:36-50 knew the impact that Jesus had on her life and that is what caused an overflow of love inside of her. Love also leads us to obedience. Jesus doesn't just tell us the Truth, He models how to live out the Truth as well. If we belong to Jesus, we are love with hands and feet. We take action and we live in love!
Then he showed me to river of the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the city's main street. The tree of life was on each side of the river, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree are for healing the nations, and there will no longer be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and His servants will worship Him. They will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. Night will be no more; people will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, because the Lord God will give them light, and they will reign forever and ever.
Revelation 22:1-4
The same God who loved us enough to create us and restore righteousness in us is the same God who has promised to make all things new once more. He will redeem what was broken and live face-to-face with us again. Let us be agents of Christ's love for the remainder of this year and until His second advent. Come, Lord Jesus!
Happy Blogmas & Merry Christmas Eve!
