Last week on our Conscious Lover’s Blog, we began examining the tough choices that Jesus made when confronted by adversity, abuse and betrayal.
If we really study Holy week we too can make the challenging choices that our Lord made. In Christ’s case loving literally took Him to the cross. What does love ask of us?
- Love confronts wrong
- When Annas, the High Priest, interrogated Jesus regarding His disciples and His teachings, Jesus looked him in the eyes and said, “I have spoken openly to the world. I have always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret. Why question me?” John 18:20,21
- Love has the courage to confront the one loved when necessary.
- Love sets boundaries on itself
- Jesus denied Himself certain freedoms to say what He’d like to say in order to achieve a higher purpose. When the Jews were harassing Pilate to crucify Jesus because He had claimed to be the Son of God, Pilate in fear asked Jesus where He came from. Jesus chose to say nothing. John 19:8,9
- There are times when love keeps its mouth shut. As a Conscious lover I deny myself the freedom to do or say whatever I’d like for the good of our relationship. In that way I imitate Christ.
- WARNING: If abuse is a part of your relationship, silence is not the answer. Seek counsel rather than keeping an ugly secret. Abuse is not love.
- Love involves sacrifice
- “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us.” I John 3:16
- Love always costs. It involves sacrifice. Love is not all about me.
- Love addresses the needs of the one loved
- When Jesus saw His mother and His beloved disciple John standing at the foot of the cross, His words were, “Dear woman here is your son” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on Mary lived in John’s home. John 19:26,27
- Love notices, responds, and acts when the loved one has a need.
- Love forgives and assumes the best of the one loved
- After Jesus had been shamed, betrayed, abused and crucified with common criminals on His left and on His right, He said, “Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.” Luke 23:34
- Love assumes the best about the other person. When that does not prove true, love chooses to forgive.
- Love responds when the loved one reaches out
- One of the criminals crucified next to Jesus rebuked the other criminal who was hurling insults at Jesus. He said, “Don’t you fear God since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he turned to Jesus and said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:40-43
- Love doesn’t stonewall or withhold. Love responds when the loved one reaches out.
Literally that Easter weekend
LOVE WENT OUT ON A LIMB.
Why?
So that we could understand how loved and valued we are by God, and so we could learn the meaning of loving a separate other. And in the end, the God who loves the world had the last word!
EASTER!
Until our next conscious Lover’s Blog……
