Extravagant Love!

This series gives examples of where our Creator shows us how to love extravagantly.

In like manner we are told to give our lives away, to die to self.

The example of Jesus of Nazareth, our Creator, is to love extravagantly.

If you listen to accounts of the rich and famous, sooner rather than later you’ll hear the term “Irreconcilable Differences.” That’s what they had with their former marriage partner. Differences that they couldn’t reconcile. They couldn’t force the other person to like what they wanted them to like, do what they wanted them to do, become who they wanted them to become.

I think that one of the main reasons that God instituted marriage between men and women is to teach us that love over looks and over comes irreconcilable differences. To be joined in a life-long commitment to someone who is almost the polar opposite on half a dozen issues forces a person to learn HOW to love. And to prove that love can be learned even for those who do not marry, Jesus lived in a community of men whose differences could not be more irreconcilable.

Think about it! A Jew collecting taxes for the Romans living with a Zealot fighting for Jewish independence. The impulsive Peter hanging with the melancholy Thomas. The “Son’s of Thunder,” so self-absorbed that they wanted special seats of honour in Jesus’ coming kingdom. A greedy schemer who would steal from his friends and ultimately betray his leader.

“They will know that you are My disciples because you love one another.”

Thirteen men in close spiritual, physical and emotional union for three years. satan was able to grab only one of them from the type of bond that Jesus is able to create; a union that He is able to create between you and your spouse, regardless of differences.

It is so easy to lose track of how special our partner is; easy to lose sight of the wonderful way in which h/her uniqueness attracted us in the first place.

“But what happens when we live God's way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard - things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely. Legalism is helpless in bringing this about; it only gets in the way. Among those who belong to Christ, everything connected with getting our own way and mindlessly responding to what everyone else calls necessities is killed off for good — crucified. Since this is the kind of life we have chosen, the life of the Spirit, let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives. That means we will not compare ourselves with each other as if one of us were better and another worse. We have far more interesting things to do with our lives. Each of us is an original."
Galatians 5:22-23

Daniel 9:4 - O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with all who love him and obey his commands.

THIS is love.