“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” (Ephesians 4:32 - 5: 2)
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8a)
The Bible uses several Greek words to define love (phileo, eros), but its definition of Divine love is the more obscure word agape, the unique, unconditional love that the Father has lavished upon His creation as described in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, and in 1 Corinthians. Those who are forgiven in Christ Jesus have become “dearly loved children” who are called to let His love flow through them into the lives of others. Because this radical love doesn’t come from us but from God, we don’t need to strain or strive to love. Our call is to draw near to the Lover of our souls and allow His love to fill us and spill out as we go about our day. This love even makes it possible to love those who are hardest to love—those who, for one reason or another, hold enmity toward us.
O God, your love astounds us. We thank you, not only for lavishing it upon us and forgiving us because of your deep love, but also for giving us the strength to love those you have placed in our lives. Fill us anew, we pray, with your love, and let love and grace and forgiveness flow out of us to others. Amen.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment