LOVE LIKE JESUS?
Written by: Jenny Calvert
“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he
said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all
your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And
a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two
commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 236-40 (ERV)
I remember giving birth to my first child. I had never felt a love like that. I was very
protective and would have laid down my life for that baby. Recently our pastor
has been preaching a series on, “Love Like Jesus,” and I thought to myself; Is
this even possible? I loved my own children
fiercely but the love of God is so great and vast that I am not sure I can even
grasp it much less do it.
I could understand small fragment of this kind of love but
would I be willing to lay down my life for someone else? How about a stranger? How about someone that hurt me or an
antagonistic person? Sometimes it’s our
own family member that is difficult to love.
Many years ago I had a family member that hurt me personally
and was a spiteful person. However, with
time, I knew God did not want me to hold animosity and it felt uncomfortable
harboring resentment anyway. There just
wasn’t enough room in my heart for both Jesus and hate. So I gave it to Him. I was honest and said, “I do not like this
person. This person hurt me deeply. I do know that you want me to not only
forgive but love. I will be honest Lord,
I can’t do it. So if you want me to love
this person, you are going to have to do it for me. I hand over all my resentment to you and ask
that you replace it with YOUR love. I
personally can’t love like that but I am willing to let you do it. Will you use me as your instrument to show
your love and forgiveness, through me?”
That is all it took.
God answered that prayer fully. It was not that person who had changed,
but me. God used me to forgive and grow in His love for this person to the
point where I would have actually laid down my life if it had been needed. The answer to the question, “Can I love like
Jesus?” is a resounding yes, because it is not me but Christ who loves through
me.
Dear Lord,
Thank-you for a love that is so great it is
immeasurable. I can’t fully understand
all of the love you have for me. Help me
to always be your instrument of love and forgiveness. When I am ready to hold
resentment, especially towards difficult people, remind me that you loved and
forgave the difficult person that I am.
I love you back, my sweet Lord, but not nearly as much as you love
me. I am humbled. Thank-you!
In Christ’s Name,
Amen
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