blithelybliss.

WHAT IS REAL LOVE?

And are we loving those around us?

It’s not a fleeting romance or a passing fancy.
It’s not a few nice words and well meaning.

I was in one of my contemplative moods today; which happens often. Especially when I’m multitasking, I’m not sure why my mind choses then, it simply does.

What love is to me is a God Who so desperately wants relationship with you and I, He gave up His Only Son to reinstate such a communion. Within that as Jesus walked the earth He gave us a wonderful measure by which to mete ourselves; before laying down His life in love for us.

We’ll never live up to Him, but that’s the purely amazing thing about grace; about love. Being perfect is not required! God is not some distant, lofty, gavel swinging, eyes blazing in Judgement, waiting-for-you-to-mess-up-so-He-can-be-angry-and-damn-you-to-hell being. He’s “ready to forgive [our trespasses, sending them away, letting them go completely and forever]…abundant in mercy and loving-kindness to all those who call upon [Him]” (Psalm 86:5 AMP). It makes me utterly sad when I come across those “Christians” exuding a holier than thou, self-righteous, tradition wrought attitude; that’s not love and quite opposite of a living example (Matthew 5:16 NASB). All the while backing up the feeling and notion that a) they’re His followers so He must be the same way and/or b) taking the time to get to know Him is but spoil and ruin and His love is a fairy-tale; those would be modern day scribes and Pharisees (nonetheless there’s yet grace for them too). Take a gander at the New Testament when you get the chance, you’ll catch the scribe/Pharisee analogy, I promise; the Book of John is a wonderful place to begin. Jesus didn’t come radiating “you’re not worth God’s love, you’ll never make it to heaven, you’re a lost cause”. He also didn’t run with the law-wielding, facade-bearing, hard-hearted, religion-laden (Mark 2:15-17 NLT). He surrounded himself with people deemed a lost cause, genuine people, people who would grasp and lay hold of the concept of real love and authentically living in it. His life proclaims “…put[ting] on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another…” (Colossians 3:12-14 NKJV). His life exudes love: “Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance” (I Corinthians 13:4-7 NLT).

THAT’S REAL LOVE and it’s what I live for (Ephesians 5:1-2 NKJV). It makes each day worth waking up to, each day easier to journey through.

Your unfailing love, O Lord, is as vast as the heavens; your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds.
Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains,your justice like the ocean depths.
You care for people and animals alike, O Lord.
How precious is your unfailing love, O God!
All humanity finds shelter in the shadow of your wings.
You feed them from the abundance of your own house, letting them drink from your river of delights.
For you are the fountain of life, the light by which we see.
Pour out your unfailing love on those who love you; give justice to those with honest hearts.
                                    Psalm 36:5-10 (NLT)

This is a love that has and still gives me brilliant light on the darkest of days; a love that put a plundered, shattered heart back together-my heart; a love that healed every ounce of heavy life baggage I’d been carrying for seven years; a love that’s willing to never let me fall, never let me go (Psalm 103:8 NLT). Embracing the fullness of love, accepting that love for ourselves, allows us to genuinely love each person around us-be it family, friend, stranger, or foe-in spite of their shortcomings. If He can (and does) love me (AND YOU!), despite where I’ve been, despite what I’ve done, despite how acted, despite all shortcomings-past, present, and future-I’m going to live out all my days loving, EARNESTLY loving, every person around me as He’s loved me til my heart ceases to beat.

(I’m not interested in nor looking to argue God or Jesus or the Bible, I’m hoping my little inbox won’t get hit with any mean feelings (all other feelings, questions, or comments are welcomed ♥). Personally I think it’s tedious. I whole-heartedly believe in to each their own; God and His love are tried and true, and it’s a love worth sharing, as far as I’m concerned. These are just my thoughts…)

1. justlikebananafish liked this
2. blithelybliss posted this