Jesus and St. Paul never spoke of love as an option. Love is a divine command \u2013 even so far as loving our enemies and blessing those who even curse us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is impossible to love like that without Divine help. No one said it would be easy. But Jesus proved it was possible. He loved to the nth degree.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Where the rubber meets the Love Road, there are often bumps and detours along the way. It isn\u2019t easy to love people who have wronged us. In fact, it is totally unnatural to love them. But Jesus would reply with an emphatic: \u201cYou can do this!\u201d In fact, He would say, “That’s exactly what I did. I died for My enemies. I forgave My enemies. I blessed My enemies.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yes, Jesus left us an example to follow, showing us the redemptive power of all-consuming love. It turns our enemies into our most loyal friends!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It has nothing to do with liking those who hurt us or attack us. Liking has to do with personal preferences. Loving has to do with truly desiring what is best for others. And true love will make personal sacrifices for the well-being of others, even of one’s enemies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are times when I don’t say a word, but my disapproval of someone\u2019s actions is evident in my demeanor. At that time, I am just not feeling the love. But, not feeling it, doesn’t count. The \u201chave love for one another\u201d scripture is a command that I can\u2019t run from. I want to be that gal that loves\u2026.despite the way someone acts or speaks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Of course, God, Himself, is our greatest example of loving. His new commandment was to love each other as He loved us. It wasn\u2019t a suggestion, but a command. There is not one person Jesus does not love and did not come to save. This includes everyone we lock eyes with, walk past on the street, hear about in the news, live next door to, stand behind in line at the grocery store, or sit next to in the waiting room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When we actively love those around us, putting their needs before our own, we are taking the same amazing love that Jesus poured out to us and becoming a living, breathing, beautiful display for humanity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While many believe love is a just a nice, heart-warming feeling when everyone is nice and heartwarming, as Christians, we are called for it to be more than that \u2014 we are called to act. We can share God\u2019s love by noticing the unnoticed, loving the unlovely, or even by extending grace to those who are not so easy to be around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Putting our love into action in this month of love (and beyond) will sincerely show we are Christians by our love. Love in action is asking God to help us actively love others \u2014 to actively walk across the street to help our neighbors, to actively cook a warm meal for a friend in need, or to actively visit a nearby nursing home to love on the elderly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Our love in action is His love in action that leads us to places where we can shine His light. His love through us will have a love ripple effect. It will guide people to His beauty and they, too, will begin to actively love others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How remarkable! That is the power of the cross!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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