When I was fifteen years old, I asked my dad if he really loved my mom.
He had picked me up from school that day and we were driving home. I remember the truck slowed down after this question and he gave me a serious look.
“Katie,” he asked. “What is love?”
I responded with something like, “Love is that feeling deep down in your soul” (I was an idealistic kid with a thing for romance novels. Don’t judge me, ‘kay?).
My dad didn’t laugh or get frustrated by this response. Instead he reached out, took my hand in his, and forever changed my perspective with one sentence:
“No, Katie. Love, real love, is commitment.”
We’re in month seven of this journey and it’s hard.
People aren’t “feeling” loved all the time. Teammates don’t seem to be measuring up to friends back home (especially during feedback, you know what I mean?). And the enemy laughs as he plays around in our heads – he whispers things like, “They don’t love you. If they really loved you . . .”
Those are lies and I am tired of it.
I’m tired of society telling me that love is what makes me feel good and that it will always make me happy. I’m tired of watching people chase after sin when true fulfillment is found only in the Lord and Christ’s arms are waiting for them.
I’m tired of the enemy trying to contradict the Word (which clearly says that love is “laying down your life” – 1 John 3:16 – and that hurts sometimes).
If love was just the mushy, gushy “feeling” we read about in books and crave when we watch The Notebook, do you think Christ would have died on the cross?
We hated Him. We spit in His face. We laughed while He suffered and cried out “Abba, Father.”
Do you think He felt “loved” hanging on a tree being mocked? Do you think He felt all “gushy” inside with a crown of thorns on His head and nails in His hands?
I don’t.
Here’s the TRUTH (the good news / the GOSPEL of Jesus Christ) –
1. God loved us before the foundation of the earth (Ephesians 1:4).
2. Our sins lead to death, but Christ took that penalty upon Himself through the cross and was resurrected three days later (Acts 2:24).
3. Through Him, by faith, we are forgiven and His continuous mercies are poured out each day (Romans 3: 21 – 26).
Child of God,
HE REALLY LOVES YOU. His grace does not run out. No matter how many times you mess up, He will still say, “I choose you. I am committed to you. I LOVE you.”
The world will fail you, but He never will. People will leave you, but He never will. Feelings will fade, but He never will. Take His hand and let Him realign your perspective.
“Love (God*) bears all things. Love (God*) believes all things. Love (God*) hopes all things. Love (God*) endures all things. Love (God*) never ends.” – 1 Corinthians 13: 7-8
*1 John 4:8
Our Father is the embodiment of LOVE – Christ is the definition.
