Week 17 (Download)
Love

But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them; Let those also who love Your name Be joyful in You. Psalm 5:11

The concept of loving ones enemies and doing well to those who hurt you is beyond the natural grasp.  True agape love defies the emotions and is rooted in God.  It is too much for me to attempt to express the depth of God’s love.  Volumes of books have been rendered on the subject and sadly the ideology of love has been watered down into a personal choice or feeling.  In today’s heavy socialistic teaching one is left empty when love is described as economic or social equality.  Truly this is not what Jesus was teaching. He elevated the Old Testament command to “love your neighbor” to a new level of being an instrument of God’s love in all circumstances even when being persecuted.  I have learned that for me the recipe for loving my enemy is to love and trust God first.  It is a matter of radical trust for my heavenly Father and His reign over all things.  It really is a matter of the mind not the heart.  The heart must submit to mind of Christ that say’s “God is in control”.  Say it, sing it, cry out for it but ultimately live your life believing that God is above it all and He will one day make all things right.

True love comes from God for He is love.  When I desire to please God in my life then I do what He does. I am motivated by the sacrificial love of the Savior who gave His life for sinners like me.  When I think about God first, others second and me a distant third then this love thing becomes a lot easier.  The focus then needs to be on God.  The mind must be transformed, (Rom 12:1-2) refocused away from ourselves, away from circumstances, away from others and focused upon God.  I can hear the voice of God whisper, “I love them”, “I died for him”, “Let me handle this”, “I own it all, just trust me”.  Yes, it’s a matter of trust.  In the core of our heart and mind do we trust God?  This is not a future salvation trust but an ever present trust in all things: our jobs, our marriages, our children, our parents, our friends.  We know from the scriptures and life’s experiences that this does not mean a life void of struggles but do we love others through our circumstance because we love and trust God.  As we live in Christ with the Holy Spirit present in our heart, with our mind fixed upon the Father, the result is love, joy and peace (Psalm 51).  When these three attributes are found in our heart and mind we are able to love as God loves. 

When we live daily in the Love of the Savior we will have the “I can’t help it” love for those around us.  For out of your bellies shall flow living water which is God’s love for all men revealed in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Reflection and Group discussion:

Discuss the saying, “love means you go first”?

Read Romans 12:1-2 how can we relate loving our enemies to living sacrifice with tender mercies?

Describe how giving or blessing another is a matter of trust

What are some hindrances for radically trusting God?

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