Do you know that moment when every fiber of your being screams, “No! I don’t want to do this. I want to do something for me”?
Oh, yes. We’re fallen creatures, and our nature is to want to please ourselves.
But that doesn’t always go so well in marriage…or in parenting.
In fact, no matter what the world may say, putting yourself at the head of the line rarely ends in anything but heartache.
But how do we do it? How do we deny self and love as Christ loved?
First, it seems to me that it’s not really an option. Look what John 15:12 says:
“This is my commandment: that you love one another as I have loved you.”
And just how did He love?
He bore our sins. While we were still sinners, He died for us. When we were unlovely. That translates to “when our spouse and / or children are grumpy, tired, unreasonable, etc.”
We show His sacrificial love by loving in the midst of the mess.
He walks with us. No matter what we face, we can know God is by our side. How does that translate? When our spouse or children are depressed, hurting, disappointed, feeling lost, we walk by their side. We don’t desert. Hard as it may be, we walk the road with them, sometimes just being there and holding a hand.
We show His sacrificial love by walking the rocky road.
He intercedes for us. Christ sits at the right hand of the Father and intercedes for us. He pleads our case, speaks on our behalf. As Christ does for us, we can intercede for our loved ones; instead of worrying we can pray and plead and believe. As Oswald Chambers has written, “Prayer is the greater work.”
We show His sacrificial love by standing in the gap for those we love.
But how do we find the strength to love and to walk and to stand? Only in the cross.
When we’re abiding in Him, we reflect His light and His love. I abide when I move a few steps closer to the Father. When I spend more time with Him. When I read His word, not someone else’s words about Him.
Then when that moment comes, I can say, “I don’t want to, Lord, but make me willing to love as You love.”
Linking up today with Beth for Wedded Wednesday.
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1 comment:
It makes sense that if Jesus walked this messy earth, not avoiding all of its troubles and pain, than we certainly should as well. But thankfully, as you've so beautifully pointed out, Laura Lee, He is with us every step of the way--turning darkness into night or simply comforting and strengthening us through the trial. Thanks for this encouragement, my friend. I savored every word you shared like it was my favorite cup of coffee!
I hope your conference is going or did go well! Tell me all about it! Praying for you!
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