Love told his disciples in John 15:
But remember the root command: Love one another.For us, that is a dilemma.
Love the person who just did me wrong by anyone's standards?
Love the street people who are smelly and could surely do better for themselves?
Love the leader who keeps telling us to love the people?
Love the Leader who keeps telling us to love the people?
From the side of us that hosts the enemy (our human sin nature), love is impossible.
From the side of us that belongs to Jesus because we have chosen to believe he came as God in human form, love is possible.
These two natures collide every time we have a choice to love, or to torture love.
When I hold judgment against that person who wronged me, I torture Love because he delivered me from that choice when he hung on the cross.
When I isolate myself from those who could benefit from what I've been given, I reject Love because he showed me how to take my heart to the streets.
When I hold the leader in disdain for telling us to love the people, I disobey Love because Love's commands are those being taught by the leader.
When I ignore the Leader who gives me his relentless love that I might extend it to others, I ignore God.
Who wants any of these on their resume when they leave this earth?
It is uncanny how, now in this time, we (continue to) torture Love that hung on a cross.
Comments are welcome at feedyourstrength@gmail.com.
