I've been reading a lot over the past several months. There are a handful of books that have truly been life changing, and one of them is Crazy Love by Francis Chan. The others on my recent reading list have been: Radical by David Platt, Pagan Christianity by Barna & Viola, Family Driven Faith by Voddie Bauchum, and The Hole In Our Gospel by Richard Stearns, as well as The Boy Who Was Raised As A Dog by Dr. Bruce Perry. They have all been great books that I have gleaned information and learned from in different ways.
Tonight, during a discussion about Chan's book, the main theme of the book (our love for God) came into question. How do we love God? If you aren't a very emotional type person and don't **feel** an overwhelming love for God, how do you explain it? If you don't feel that way, does that mean you don't love Him? If we don't feel like we love Him enough, how can we love Him more? How do you make your love for God grow??
Tough questions...
After the discussion, I was catching up on my blog reading and came across this video. It made me think about the questions of the discussion in a different light. The video is actually a commentary about loving adopted kids with attachment disorders, but I think it could be applied in a variety, maybe all. situations and relationships. What if we loved like the video is describing? Loved God that way....loved our spouses and kids (adopted or not) that way...our extended family...our friends and acquaintances? What if we loved people, in general, this way...regardless of who they are or where they lived or what their life circumstances are?
Ouch. I fail miserably at loving anybody like this...even my own sons whom I adore and would die for. Love is not rude...not touchy...not irritable...not jealous....not selfish or prideful.... If true love is really what 1 Corinthians 13 describes (and I believe that it is), then I am in need of a lot of forgiveness, grace and a lot of improvement.
It's a lofty goal, but I'm going to try. Love.....Crazy Love....the 1 Corinthians kind.
Oh girl. I really need to hear this today! After our 2 days in Branson I felt like I had been so rude to the kids and honestly had to pray hard the past couple days about why I am so frustrated right now with them. Thanks girl!
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