THAT Kind of Love

THAT KIND OF LOVE

By: Julie Souza Bradley Lilly

“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends.” – John 15:13 NIV

Don’t you just love receiving an unexpected love note or message of encouragement from a friend?  I sure do.

It is at stressful times in life that a message of encouragement can come in like a fresh breeze from Heaven, lift my spirit and fill my sails to move again.  Those precious words touch my heart and feel like love.

But if truth be told, there is another type of message that I also need to hear that is unpleasant.  I recoil at the thought of being admonished, rebuked or corrected.

In retrospect, however, it is those excruciatingly painful messages that often carry the greatest love.  Those words shine a spotlight on a faulty belief, bad attitude or <gulp> an unconfessed sin.  They are lifelines from Heaven, that spare me from receiving a burn, a bite or going over a cliff.

It is love that reaches down to me in the pit, and not only whispers that I am going to be alright, but is willing to lower a rope, reach down into the muck and pull my bloodied and broken body up to safety.

It is love that sees me bruised and covered with filth.  Love runs to the well to draw pure water, pours it out upon me and binds up my wounds.

And it’s love that shouts caution to me to turn around when I am going the wrong way, or whose hand takes firm grasp of my arm to snatch me away from danger.

It can be painful and embarrassing.  But it is the most precious of loves.  It is a love with arms held wide—wide enough to be outstretched upon a cross.  Love that is willing to risk misunderstanding, bear rejection and carry guilt, shame and the cost, so I can walk clean, free and unencumbered.

A sharp sting is a blessing, if it spares us from death.

How grateful I am for love like that.

Father, give us a heart like Yours.  Help us to hear love in Your correction.  Soften our hearts so as to be molded, and not broken, by its message.

Expand our love for one another so, likewise, we will be willing to say and do the hard, yet necessary, things in love.  In humility, may we consider others more highly than ourselves, and be willing to sacrifice our own comfort to save another from harm.

Lord, it is in direct opposition to our flesh, yet is in perfect alignment with the work of the cross.  Teach us how to love with THAT kind of love—not just a feel good love, but real love that is willing to risk great personal loss for the hope of eternal, unselfish gain.

Thank You for loving us with THAT kind of love.  Teach us to love that way, too.  In Jesus’ Name ❤️

https://www.facebook.com/Prayers-of-a-Ragamuffin-Warrior-171515087035441/

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