Jesus' Kind of Love

One of the most beautiful lessons I’ve learned this year has come from loving broken people and from being loved in my brokenness. Love is the most incredible ability that we have, and it can change people if we let it.

We are called to love people like Jesus. Jesus loves every single one of us, no matter who we are, what we’ve done, or how much hate we carry in our heart. His love is not limited by our shortcomings.

We can’t pick and choose who we love. That’s not love. Sometimes we fall into the trap of trying to determine if someone is worthy of our love. The answer to that question is always yes. If they are worthy of God’s love, they are worthy of our love.

Love is not easy, but love is a choice. It’s not feelings that come and go. God chooses to love us. It probably doesn’t feel good to love us when we’re being dumb and running around doing things we shouldn’t. But He chooses to love us at every single second, all the way to the cross and back.

Love is choosing the good of another despite what it costs me. It means pouring out ourselves for the good of another person to show them the selfless love of Christ.

Even when they are annoying.

And whiny.

And they’re crazy middle schoolers.

And they’re complaining about the free food they get every week.

Love never fails. If we only loved when it was easy, how could we make anyone believe that God could love us at all times? We are made in the image and likeness and God, and in the image and likeness of His love. Our lives are meant to reflect the love of God and to help others understand just a small glimpse of His love for us.

Love is not some girly, fru fru thing with pink and red hearts.

God is love. And we’re supposed to be like God. So we get to BE love.

In 1 Corinthians chapter 13, Paul gives us a beautiful lesson on love:

“Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, it is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.”

If you want to love better, take these verses to heart. Put your name in place of love. Are you patient? Are you kind? Are you jealous? None of us will ever be able to love perfectly, but by the grace of God we can grow in our ability to love.

Love causes us to move and calls us to action. It is what drives us to stand up for the youth, to call people out when they’re not living as the son or daughter they are called to be, and to take a leap of faith to pursue the will of God.

Love is not some girly, fru fru thing with pink and red hearts.

Love is feminine, and it is manly. It is fierce and powerful, stronger than the grave. To give ourselves in love is the greatest thing we can do with our lives. This is what Jesus does for us every single day. He gives Himself in Love, saying “This is my body which I have given up for you.” (Luke 22:19)