Love Demonstrates
Posted on July 29, 2020 by Catey Stover in Victory Call
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8 NIV)
Pregnancy dreams are real and intense. I dreamt once I had to sacrifice my daughter to save someone else. Afterwards, I received no thank you or word of gratitude.
I seemingly felt the heart-wrenching pain of watching my child suffer and die to the point I cried in my sleep and lost my breath. In that instant I said to the Lord, “That must be how You felt to watch Jesus die on the cross for a thankless world.”
Romans 5:7 (ESV) reads: For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—
It is rare that anyone will give his or her life for a seemingly “good” person. Yet God showed His love by allowing His own Son to be unjustly murdered. He teaches us how frail our love is in comparison.
I find it unthinkable to sacrifice my children for another human being. Yet our God did it willingly, without question or hesitation.
That’s a love demonstration!
It’s a love that doesn’t consider all the pros and cons. It’s a love that doesn’t hesitate or recall past hurt. It’s a love that doesn’t even question whether it will be reciprocated.
The challenge we have today is that most people have love all wrong, even in the church. As Christians I believe we have been discipled to believe that showing the world love is done just through our service.
Feeding the hungry. Clothing the homeless. Taking in the orphans.
Yes, these are loving acts. But I get the sense that the love God is calling us to demonstrate goes much deeper. Most of us will never be faced with dying for another. Yet daily we are faced with opportunities to die to our own desires, selfishness and prejudice so that others can see the love of God in us. At home. At work. In the mall.
When was the last time you died to yourself so that someone else might experience true love?
Diera Shaw-Mendez
Written by Diera Shaw-Mendez: Diera Shaw-Mendez is thrilled to be part of the team at Barbara’s Place. She is wife to Chaplain Juan Mendez and mama to Olivia, Sage, and Orlando. She enjoys worshiping at church, designing, event planning, and cooking. Diera is a God-fearing, Starbucks loving, tech junkie (…in that order!) who simply wants to remind women of God’s unchanging, healing love.
Think About This: “Love is something more stern and splendid than mere kindness..” – C.S. Lewis
The Daily Bible Reading: Jeremiah 9-12| You can download our 2020 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here.
This Week’s Verse to Memorize: 13 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ -1 Peter 1:13
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the doctrinal and theological views held by America’s Keswick.