Making Love
It is amusing that we, as imperfect a people as we are, believe that we have the right stuff to make or fix that which God created. We believe that we can make love work when much of the time we cannot define nor describe what love is or what love does.
A hurt that is as hell is felt when the sense of love wanes or is lost. When the sense of love wanes, there is tremendous pain. Generally, the bearer of pain seeks a cure by confrontation demanding dialogue, or more shortsightedly immediate transformation. More often than not, emotions are high, thinking before speaking does not occur, and if thinking occurs it is one-sided at best, and what ensues is a bigger mess.
Let us consider the Lord. He loves us. He made the world and then gave it to us as our possession to have dominion over it, under His watchful rule and care. He provided all that we needed. We had unfettered access to Him. It was not enough. We desired more than what He gave. We sinned. We broke the spiritual union between God and ourselves.
What did He do? Did He throw an angry fit? No. Did He call us derogatory names? No. Did He make unreasonable demands? No.
He desired dialogue. But, He did not force it. He desired that the situation be resolved. But, He did not make irrational demands.
He has regard for our human imperfection. He knows we are prone to be distracted and detoured by devilish influences and longings.
Yet, He waits patiently. He keeps His temper. He speaks in a direct, but considerate way. He seeks what is in our best interest by leading us correctly to righteousness, even though we are the offending party. He makes obvious what love is.
I have been hurt by love, but more accurately by my misunderstanding of what love is and does. I focused on how I felt and what I was receiving. I was being selfish. To be selfish is to not be loving. God’s focus is on giving because He is unselfish.
Many times when we say love hurts, we are complaining about what the other party is doing or not doing. By doing this we make as if our love is perfect. But, our complaining reveals that our love is immature, at best.
Love is God’s idea. He made love. He is love. (1 John 4:7) The love that God has for us and which He expects from us is symbolized as charitable or giving. Benevolent affection denotes it. Let no person delude you about love. God is the source of love, the definer of love, and the judge of love. Therefore, seek to understand and practice love from His perspective.
Love is demonstrable and therefore discernible. Since it is demonstrable and discernible, then it behooves us to get a better understanding and to practice love in deed and in truth for our judgment day waits. We will not be afforded the opportunity, when we appear before God, to discuss how others did not love us, but rather to give an account of our love or lack thereof towards God and humanity, even the people who have wronged us.
Paul put it plainly for us- 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (Amplified Bible)
Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily. 5It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God's love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong]. 6It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail. 7Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening]. 8Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end]….
John tacks on for greater clarity- 1 John 3:18 (Amplified Bible) 18Little children, let us not love [merely] in theory or in speech but in deed and in truth (in practice and in sincerity).
If your love is hurting, check to see if God is there. You don’t know love unless you know the God who designed love. Another can never really love you as God designed without knowing the God who designed love. When you know God, He puts love into your account-it is within you-yet He calls you to grow in love, to mature to a greater understanding and to make way for greater manifestation of love in your life from the purest of motives-simply because God says-so and because His Spirit is within you, leading you. The closer you are to God, the greater the revelation of love will be revealed in your life.
You make love by manifesting love. You make love by manifesting God. When you manifest God, those people who you desire love from can be influenced and transformed by the very love that you show. Then, they will be able to show you the love you seek.
However, you cannot make anyone love you. Neither should you entertain trying to deceive people into loving you nor should you interfere in someone else’s relationship vying for the affection of someone who is committed to someone else. Don’t be the other man or the other woman-you are better than that and you deserve better than that.
Christ desires our love. He has us on His heart and mind. He demonstrated the extensiveness of His love in His life lifting up those who were burdened down meeting their needs and in engaging with people who hated Him trying to turn them around. He, demonstrated the depth of His love through His death, burial, and resurrection. Now, He kindheartedly, uncomplainingly awaits our reply to Him. He is caringly speaking unto us, saying, “Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
And when a person truly from the bottom of their heart looks to Calvary to see what Christ has done for them, how can they not love Him?
RevLDReedSr
I Owe Jesus
1/21/10
