"We cannot live unaffected by love. We are most alive when we find it, most devastated when we lose it, most empty when we give up on it, most inhumane when we betray it and most passionate when we pursue it." Erwin McManus
Love seems heroic and astonishing when we listen to a much loved bedtime story as children nestled safely in our comfortable bed. After overcoming what seems like an insurmountable obstacle, love conquers all and the hero and heroine live happily ever after in the end. Some people believe love is a worthy pursuit. It's worth living and dying for and can motivate people toward extraordinary outcomes.
But, love can also be confusing for most of us. Broken and confused hearts can influence our totally rational brain and lead us into all kinds of irrational messy situations. I think this is probably why a lot of people search for answers or insight and other people make a lot of money doling out advice. Love can be illusive but remains the primary focus of our personal constitution.
Maturity is a great teacher. It can reveal much truth about our motives and challenge us to broaden our scope of understanding. Maybe what we initially call love is really infatuation. It's our selfish motives that need changing. Love can't be limited to our emotions. The bible defines love as a choice which requires discipline. And then, there is sacrifice. I think Jesus has a lot to say about love and its power to transform us. We will discover some of what he says as we continue with our Crave series this weekend. We will develop the idea of intimacy with God and be challenged to consider our motives in regards to love. Don't miss worship this weekend. Who knows, maybe the answer you've been searching for is waiting for you right where God intended it to be.
"This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him." 1 John 4:9 NIV