Let me start this entry by saying that love is not an easy thing. Love is a great thing. But what kind of love is it that matters most? There is the love you have for family, a brotherly-sisterly love, this is Phileo. There is the love of deep friendship where iron sharpens iron and full of affection from a pure heart, this is Storge. There is the love one has that is physical and romantic, this is Eros. There is the love that God has for us, which is by choice, this is Agape'. This last love can be exemplified by Christ's work on the cross, His ultimate sacrifice. All of these kinds of love are important, but only in the context that God has designed love for.
The world has an obscured kind of view on what love should be, and often, that falls under the eros love, phileo love or storge. C.S. Lewis can be quoted as saying,"To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even 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. To love is to be vulnerable." -The Four Loves
I have been learning from 1 Corinthians, that I need improvement in some areas, as I know others do, too. Lately, I feel like I have fallen short in many ways, yet I know that God is good. One of the risks of loving someone is putting your heart out there, and taking a risk. One of the things I think very important is to be real and honest with someone about how you feel. It is a huge risk because the consequence is rejection. Sometimes when you love some, you have to let them be, to heal. Other times, when you love someone, you have to learn to communicate without prejudice or without judgement. Sometimes you have to be clear of what your expectations are when you love someone. Ultimately, when you love someone you have to place your love in God's hands to shape. As far as friendship love there is a limitation to how friendship is received and reciprocated, as it is, too, with romantic love. When we love someone as Christians, we are to love with a pure heart. (See 1 Timothy 1:5)
I am no expert on love really, other than what Jesus is teaching me day by day. Jesus' example to us of true agape' love was done on the cross. Whenever you want to see an example of agape' love, look at how Jesus interacted with people throughout the gospel. Jesus tells us that, "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13-- How do you love someone who is unlovable? How do you love someone who is hurting? How do you love someone who has rejected you? Look to the passage above in 1 Corinthians 13, and ask God to show you where you need improvement. I know I need improvement.
I can only say this as I write, that I want to be loved with a love that is real, with a love that is pure and godly, that does not remind me of my faults or shortcomings, that believes I can be better than what I am now. I know that I want to love and be loved with trust, kindness and humility. I want know God's perfect love in His perfect will and know that I can, too, do the same. Through Christ's love in our hearts we find true healing. Until we recognize Jesus as the source of that love in our hearts we cannot love any other way.
My prayer today is: Jesus, I want to love like You do. Also, You know my heart's desire regarding love. Today, my heart aches. Please forgive me for not walking true to this path. Help me to be patient to be kind, and not jealous. Help me to protect and trust, being ever hopeful, knowing that in Your perfect will, love never fails. Help me today to not be proud or self-seeking. Help me to forgive as You have forgiven me. Help me to continue to walk according to Your word, and let my actions be spoken with love from a pure heart. Jesus, also, I lift up those close to me who are hurting also, who need time to heal, to seek Your face, to be made whole again. Above all, please let Your will be done and be glorified. In Your name, Amen.
- Blue Letter Bible. "Paul's Epistle - 1 Corinthians 13 - (NIV - New International Version)." Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2011. 29 Jun 2011. http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=1Cr&c=13&t=NIV
- Reference: http://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/1069006.C_S_Lewis
- Blue Letter Bible. "Dictionary and Word Search for '"Greater" AND "love"' in the NIV". Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2011. 29 Jun 2011. < http:// www.blueletterbible.org/search/translationResults.cfm?
- Criteria=Greater+love&t=NIV >
No comments:
Post a Comment
As this blog is meant to inform as well as encourage, please be considerate when leaving feedback. Thank you.