Jesus showed us the definition of Love, Himself.
In the Temple, by the sea, at the funeral of a son, in the Garden, before an unfair court in shame, chained to the flogging post, under the thorn-crown, bearing the heavy Beams over open gashes, in His every drop of precious blood, hanging in a choking posture from the Cross, and rising to walk and talk with His friends again.
His love was Radical. Never before had God died. Never before had those miracles been done. Never before had God defeated death for every soul. Never before did God demonstrate Himself so clearly, so openly. God IS Love. He doesn't just do it, He defines it. He exudes it. He is IT.
His love was Selfless. (So unlike my own love, if I can even call it that.) He thought of you and me, and those very thoughts of His loved ones drove Him, pushed Him, encouraged Him, strengthened Him to do what was required. How many times did He think of Himself? I'm not sure, but my guess is not many, for if He would have dwelt on Himself, He wouldn't have done any of it. His thoughts and actions were for His Father's children, for His Family. This is Love.
His love was Transforming. He made a Way. He gave His blood for ours. He paid every price. He changed our hearts, supernaturally and miraculously making it possible for us to give Grace and forgiveness (and Love and Joy and Peace and Patience and Kindness and Goodness and Faithfulness and Gentleness and Self-Control). Those things are beyond what we posses. Our love doesn't contain them. But His does, and now, because of the Holy Spirit, our wine skins are stretched to contain everything He empowers into us. We are NOT the same.
Jesus, fill us with your Spirit. Empower us to be more like You. Help our definition to be Love too. Radical, Selfless, Transforming - Love.
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