“The love of God does not consist in tears or in this delight ad tenderness, which for the greater part we desire and find consolation in, but it consists in serving with justice and fortitude of soil and in humility. Without such service, it seems to me we would be receiving everything and giving nothing.”
~
Ask yourself the following questions, and then respond with honest answers:
- What does God’s love look like in the world?
- How does your love replicate the love of God in the world?
Receiving and accepting God’s love is one thing, but it’s an entirely different thing to love all creation in the same manner and depth as God. God’s character represents justice, righteousness, and peace. If we commit to love like God, it will cost us dearly from a worldly perspective, but God will reward us beyond measure spiritually.
When we view God’s love from an extremely selfish human position, it doesn’t make any rational sense, e.g., love your enemies? What? Are you kidding me? Why should we love our enemies? Answer: Because God loves God’s enemies? Why should we live a life of love and service? Answer: Because God exhibits a life of love and service. Why should we commit to exercising justice, righteousness, and peace in all of our affairs? Answer: Because God is committed to justice, righteousness, and peace for all of creation in all of God’s affairs.
We can’t claim to love God and to be a child of God if we don’t love all of creation like God. God’s love is universal and knows no boundaries. God says “yes” to everyone who accepts God’s invitation for a relationship and the calling God has for their life. Accepting the invitation and answering God’s call means we must surrender our definitions and understanding of love and adopt those of God. God’s definition of love is in a verb form. It requires much sacrifice and action. God’s love is a command, not a suggestion, and it mandates us to love God, love others as ourselves, love all of creation, and help change the world.
Are you ready to love like God loves and help change yourself and the world, or will you continue to love only yourself and strive to gain more of what this world has to offer?
God of love, Your love has no limits or exclusions. The only way we miss out on Your love is by exercising our self-will and choosing to live for ourselves apart from You. Would you please remove the extreme selfishness and worldliness from our souls and grant us the honesty, open-mindedness, and willingness necessary to obey your love commandment. Today we commit our lives to love and service for all of creation. We desire nothing more than to love in the same manner as You love all the days of our lives. In Your Spirit and Name, we pray these things. May Your will not ours always materialize, now and forever. Amen.
Photo by Leighann Blackwood on Unsplash
Leave a Reply