To Love Like God
Easier said than done. God loves unconditionally, while we place judgement. God loves with all that He is, we are willing to give very little of ourselves. We think of love as a feeling, but it’s actually a decision—a decision to sacrifice and give some or all of yourself for somebody else. It’s more than feelings and emotions, although these are not divorced from love, rather they help us to more fully achieve it.
A husband and a wife make vows to each other, promises and commitments. They live out those vows by making compromises and sacrifices, giving of themselves to one another physically, emotionally, and spiritually. That is love.
Love begets life and through life we learn to love. It is a circle, a continuous cycle, and through it our society and our world continues to grow. In fact, it is essential to the survival of humanity. That’s why marriage must be defended and upheld as a life-long union between one man and one woman. Their love is a sign of God’s love in the world. Their love is fruitful and when they love like God—giving themselves fully over to one another—life springs forth. Their mutual love is so powerful that it partakes in the mysterious process of God’s creation.
And that life formed out of love—as tiny and insignificant as it may seem—cannot be dismissed as mere flesh any more than the newborn baby can. Upon the joining of the cells into a permanent, unbreakable union—sperm and egg, man and woman, body and soul—that same cycle has begun of life and love. This creature is human, made in the image and likeness of God, deserving the same dignity and respect as we do.
The Personification of Love
Love for us as Christians is no longer an abstract idea far removed from the world, in fact, love has come into the world in the most simple, yet mysteriously extraordinary way. Love was born as you and I were born. Jesus Christ isn’t just a good guy. He’s more than a great spiritual teacher. He is God and God is love. Jesus is love personified, love incarnate, love made flesh.
What does that mean? It means that Jesus loves you more than life itself. And the proof is in His expression of that love through His sacrificial death and glorious resurrection into eternal life—showing us in the most profoundest of ways the cycle of love and life.
His becoming human raised up our humanity to a special dignity. We have been made children of God, adopted into the divine family of love. But will you continue that cycle of life and love?
In his song “Love” Musiq Soulchild sings to Jesus Christ, the personification of love. Listen to the song and everytime he calls out to “Love” replace it for the word “Lord” and you will realize the true beauty of this song and the truth of this mystery.