"Love extravagantly, even when it's costly and it's not returned."
You know that place when you're sliding into waking up but not quite there yet? I often hear a jewel of wisdom from God, and have to focus really hard to grab it and hold onto it before I get out of bed or even move. And when it's hard to grasp the fullness of the words, I wait and ask God to please give it to me again. It can take a while until I feel I've really gotten hold of what He was saying. Today was one of those times.
I'm pondering the Lord's choice of words, extravagantly and costly. Aren't they the same? But I realize that they're not. I can love extravagantly without it being costly, because the one I'm loving is one I also have relationship with, adore, cherish or otherwise greatly value. Like Jesus. Or my husband. Or my children or grandchildren. Loving extravagantly is costly when it's someone who doesn't like me, or hurts me, or is someone who rejects my attempts at loving them. This is the love Father was talking about to my heart this morning. I've been finding that quite often lately, the Lord is asking me to question myself in how I'm doing with loving those who I feel have rejected me, or who have I feel have abandoned me in some way, or those who judge me. Or "GASP" the ones where the little green monster of jealousy raises it's ugly head. In me, not in them. In all of these scenarios, He's asking me to love in spite of the fact that it's costly, and to adjust my heart to line up with His. A There's no condemnation at all, just a questioning inside about whether I can choose a better way. His way is always better than mine.
Bless you today as you read this, as you go out and come in again, as you sleep and dream and hope and love. God stopped by this morning, and started my day off with a deposit in my love account. I'm so glad He did. I hope He does the same for you.
originally posted 8-12-13
You know that place when you're sliding into waking up but not quite there yet? I often hear a jewel of wisdom from God, and have to focus really hard to grab it and hold onto it before I get out of bed or even move. And when it's hard to grasp the fullness of the words, I wait and ask God to please give it to me again. It can take a while until I feel I've really gotten hold of what He was saying. Today was one of those times.
I'm pondering the Lord's choice of words, extravagantly and costly. Aren't they the same? But I realize that they're not. I can love extravagantly without it being costly, because the one I'm loving is one I also have relationship with, adore, cherish or otherwise greatly value. Like Jesus. Or my husband. Or my children or grandchildren. Loving extravagantly is costly when it's someone who doesn't like me, or hurts me, or is someone who rejects my attempts at loving them. This is the love Father was talking about to my heart this morning. I've been finding that quite often lately, the Lord is asking me to question myself in how I'm doing with loving those who I feel have rejected me, or who have I feel have abandoned me in some way, or those who judge me. Or "GASP" the ones where the little green monster of jealousy raises it's ugly head. In me, not in them. In all of these scenarios, He's asking me to love in spite of the fact that it's costly, and to adjust my heart to line up with His. A There's no condemnation at all, just a questioning inside about whether I can choose a better way. His way is always better than mine.
Bless you today as you read this, as you go out and come in again, as you sleep and dream and hope and love. God stopped by this morning, and started my day off with a deposit in my love account. I'm so glad He did. I hope He does the same for you.
originally posted 8-12-13
