Christ's Love

I have been really challenged in my life lately with what God is teaching me.  I recently read a book by Francis Chan called Crazy Love, this was probably the most challenging thing that I have read since I began this journey with Christ.  In this book he talks about falling madly, deeply, intimately in love with God.  For me it was a little weird to think about falling intimately in love with God, but when I stopped and thought about it...why would He deserve a love that is any less than what I give my wife or my daughter.  Why would my Creator deserve for me to love my house and my security in my job more than Him. Christ deserves every ounce of love that I have to give.  I am discovering that this is what being a Christian is about.  Ephesians 2:8 says, "For it is by grace you are saved, through Faith--and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God..."  This grace is the sacrifice of Jesus.  Who in His right mind would sentence His only son to death for me?Someone who loves me infinitely more than my mind could ever fathom! "For God so loved the world that he sent his only begotten Son that whoever shall believe in Him shall have everlasting life." (John 3:16)  This picture of Love is something that we should strive to emulate in our daily lives.

This love should extend to those we interact with daily whether we know them or not.  Ephesians 5:21 says "Submit to one another out of Reverence for Christ."  This is how we show Christ that we love Him... by loving others, submitting to our own desires and putting others before us, in hopes that Christ will be made known..  Knowing myself (and my wife I am sure would not deny)  I am a self centered, self-serving being, and when I take this approach to life the people around me tend to suffer and endure "my wrath," and tend to return the favor as well.    This is the complete opposite of the picture that Jesus painted when he walked the Earth. Jesus even says it clear as day:

"This is my command: Love each other." (John 15:17).

1Peter 4:8 also says, "Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins."

1 Corinthians 13:4, "Love is patient, love is kind, It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud."

 John 13:34, " A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another."

So currently I am praying that God gives me the strength, patience, and humility to put others before myself so that in that servant hood, His Glory may be revealed.

Thank You Lord for the Love you continually show me.  I pray that you provide me the humility to take on the role of a servant so that your Glory may be revealed to those around me. Amen!