Wednesday, May 19, 2010

To Love is to Risk II

John 15 12-13 "My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."

How do we love others the way Jesus loved us? It seems impossible to do. How do we risk our hearts day after day? I can think of only one way to even begin to do so and that is by being on our faces every morning. We need to be crying out to Him for the courage, strength and grace to love beyond our abilities. It is impossible to obey Jesus' command to love the way He loved...in our own ability or strength. The ability to love like that only comes from the Holy Spirit who lives in us and will love through us. We are asked in Scripture to die to self and consider others better than ourselves. The TRUTH is: It's not about me, it's all about Jesus. Philippians 2:2-4 Then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Just as we do not love in our own ability but through the Holy Spirit in us, we also do not have the capacity to handle the possibility of a broken heart. Praise the Lord that He is there for us in the pain as well. His grace is sufficient to meet all of our needs, even a broken heart. Love may be a risky business but the blessing of loving the way Jesus loves far out shines the pain. We must love one another and just give the rest to Him for His glory!

MaryAnn

MaryAnn and John Kiernan have been married for 36 years, have 2 grown/married sons and are the proud grandparents of 3 grandsons. She serves at America's Keswick as a Biblical Counselor and also as Intake Coordinator for the Colony of Mercy. Her life verse is Romans 8:28.

PSALM 86
I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart,
and I will glorify your name forever.

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