Are You Searching For Passionate, Compelling Love To The End?
“when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end” (John 13:1).
There was a heaviness and almost gloom that had laid upon my heart that week. All of the years of loving Pete had been a lesson in love my heart needed. It was throughout those years I had begun to understand at least a glimpse of God’s love toward me. To love someone so much that you are so vulnerable, and willing to endure selfless agony at times if only they were to find happiness. To love so dearly that you are willing to give up all other dreams, hopes and desires; if that would bring them joy. Yet, Pete at times was swallowed up by the darkness of bipolar depression. Although, I had watched that world in my own mother; I could not fully comprehend it. The chemicals in my own brain could not truly understand that world of mental illness. At times I was frustrated by it; yet, at other times like a mother would cradle her sick child, I longed to discover the cure. Perhaps if I could love just a little purer, I could sweep away the pain and darkness. That week, as I prayed; my prayer went like this. “Father, I have pleaded for years that you cure Pete. If the only way for him to be well and to find joy is to go home to you and for certain, he is your child—then I let go. If by any slim chance, he doesn’t know You, Lord—then give me the words and the strength to show him Your Love. Give me one more chance.” Two days later, he was gone to be with the Lord. That was July 23, 1994 that he died and still, today; I love Pedro Barba and I guess I always will unto the end—no matter what else my life brings.
Mine was such an imperfect love; as always is the case with human love. Yet, I tell you all this to help you FEEL GOD’S LOVE. Paul prayed earnestly for the church of Ephesus that they might be grounded in and strengthened by the love of Christ and that they “May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:18-19). That is my prayer for you.
PERFECT LOVE
As Jesus knew His hour of torture, pain, death and agony were quickly approaching, He was filled with love and compassion for these His apostles. His love for these would be the strength that allowed Him to lay down His life. He longed for their hearts to understand the oceans of love He had for them. He knew they were going to face trials, sorrows, and even confusion as He laid down His life to give them eternal life. Our love, at its very best is flawed; yet, how we seek it, long for it, need it, and thrive in it. That is because we were made to be loved perfectly by God—our creator. He made us to be loved and to love Him.
LIFE FLOWING LOVE
God so loved the world. Yes, there is that love. Yet, there is a very special greater love that Jesus has for those who are His bride—the body of believers. That is a burning, vibrant love to the end. It is a love that sustains us through the trials of this life. It is that essence that is life in us and through us. “ I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).
COMPELLING, CONSTRAINING LOVE
When we begin to understand the magnitude of His love, we are constrained to follow Him where ever He leads us. We are compelled by love with a desire to do his good pleasure. That love becomes the compelling force to lay aside foolish selfish desires and to place His desires above our own. If we were to understand or feel, even a little bit the love of Jesus toward us; we would delight in His presence. We would long to be near Him, to love Him and to endure whatever cross is ours on this earth knowing He is our greatest treasure. Yet, a little while and my beloved Savior returns for me.
HIS LOVE FOR YOU—THE JOY SET BEFORE HIM
For each believer, be assured—Jesus never loses sight of His love for you. That love was what made Him willing to go to the cross. “For the joy that was set before Him, He endured the cross” (Hebrews 12:2). That joy “set before Jesus” is the joy of lavishing His love upon you for eternity. His Joy is loving you forever.
NOTHING CAN SEPARATE US FROM THAT LOVE
He loved them to the end. Nothing that Jesus faced on His road to Calvary—not the rejection, the flogging, the pain, the agony, the death, the Father’s wrath toward sin, the shame, nor the guilt stood in the way of His love for me. “ For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39)
CONCLUDING THOUGHTS
Do you know the love of Jesus? Is He your greatest treasure? The one that you seek with all your heart and soul? Are you delighting in that love? Are you swept away in that love? God is the love my heart has always desired. He cannot give me love apart from Himself. I cannot truly love anything or anyone apart from knowing God’s love first.
“When I have learnt to love God better than my earthly dearest, I shall love my earthly dearest better than I do now”. C.S. Lewis
The song I choose for you today is Sweep Me Away
The photo is courtesy of unsplash.com—the inscription I added.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.