What if you could be loved even better than you originally imagined?
Some will say I am too idealistic to think that a marriage, a friendship, or a family relationship could be more than you could have imagined. That’s OK. You are certainly welcome to your opinion, but I know what I have seen and experienced. Of course there are a few prerequisites to such a love between two people in a marriage, a family, or a friendship.
Would you withhold judging me negatively until the end of this piece? A question for you to ponder: What was/is the best relationship you have ever observed or experienced?
Have you ever seen a relationship where respect was evident, care was deeply felt, support was freely offered, peace and security permeated the atmosphere, appropriate comfort was offered and received, encouragement and praise abounded, and each person knew their value to the other, and “I love you” was not just a passing thought but often said with sincerity?
I know. I know. There I go being idealistic again. But wait a minute. Aren’t we, as followers of Christ, commanded and even empowered to give such love? Maybe you didn’t know you were already loved this way but your Father in heaven. Did you know in John 3:16 and John 17:23, God’s love is revealed as so deep that He was willing to give the life of Jesus so you and I could be with Him eternally, and that love is so deep that the Father loves us as much as He loves Jesus His Son. Really. Well, what about that?!
Jesus showed us and those with and to whom He ministered such love that He met physical needs, emotional loneliness needs, and spiritual needs clearly, powerfully, caringly. He then commanded us to love as He loves….John 13:34-35. He then gave us as His followers the Holy Spirit to produce in us that same love and care. Our job is to receive Him, believe Him, then give His love away despite the hindrances we ourselves may have experienced.
I ask you to pray that from this day forward you and I would love a lost, lonely world and the people we meet with God’s love as He revealed it in Jesus. That IS HIS WILL! I John 5:14-15 says if we ask anything according to His will, He will hear us; and if He hears us we will have what we ask. What do you say? Willing to pray that and watch God do in you and through you more than “we ever asked or imagined” especially on the “love one another” front?
We can’t wait any longer to start. Our world is drying up for God’s love expressed in real time and in real people……you and me.