Learning to Love Like Jesus
Once a wise sister-in-Christ texted me the following:
“But now the challenge and the stretch are, can you extend grace to the people who wronged you, just like Jesus where his heart still cares and becomes so vulnerable and open to hurt?”
If you’re anything like me, sometimes the words you say don’t match your brain or your heart. You want to show someone that you care, but the words come out too strong or clumsy or awkward. When this happens, I generally just pray for God to smooth over any offense. Sometimes he’ll lead me to clarify with the person but usually I just move on.
While we hope others will grant us grace, sometimes we can forget to give it. The other night I was on a walk and felt reminded of a situation that happened a few years ago. Someone had said something pacifying but enraging (to me). While I tried to brush it off and be understanding, God showed me that I’d put up guards and was close to making inner vows that I’d never allow myself to be more than acquaintences with this person because of how I’d been hurt. Yikes!
I really needed the reminder to love like Jesus.
He is our perfect role model and he certainly didn’t only love the people who loved and understood him. While showcasing love will sometimes mean getting hurt or rejected, we can be comforted knowing Jesus understands and will heal our wounds. And we can continue loving, empowered by his Spirit.
“To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. To love is to be vulnerable.” - C.S. Lewis
May we never withhold our love from others because we’re afraid. Let’s love others vulnerably, generously as our great God loves us.
Drop two ❤️❤️ if you’re in.
