Oh, love is a many-splendored and often-splintered thing. How do we “define” it, get a handle on it? I think the best answer Christians can give is the old adage, “You look up love in the dictionary and Christ’s picture is next to it.”
Here are a few thoughts from Scripture and various folks. Read them but before flying on to the next window, stop and think (and comment here:) — “What might love look like in your life today?”
16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. 17 If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be that person? 18 Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”
“To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket- safe, dark, motionless, airless–it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable.” C.S. Lewis
“You cannot worship unless you know you do not deserve to dance. You cannot worship unless you know that you do.” Dan Allender
A Love Prayer:
Father God, it is only because you loved us perfectly through your Son’s sacrifice that we can love at all. We ask you, urge you, make us more like Christ. Keep us from stepping into sinkholes of trying to love in our own strength. By your Spirit give us eyes to see, ears to hear, lips to speak, feet to dance, into your hurting world with YOUR love today. We love you, Lord, because you first loved us.
