Extravagant Love!

I began this series almost two months ago. It gives real life 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.

Have you ever had someone be kind to you when kindness wasn’t deserved or expected?

It’s a wonderful thing. When our only biological child died, we were already members of an amazing love community. For about twelve days, these people, these friends, these brothers and sisters in Christ remained close by. Sometimes one would just sit in our living room or at the kitchen table. Sometimes we’d see one just sitting on our deck reading a book. If we wanted / needed to talk they were there to talk with us. If not they’d just be there. And of course the food - mountains of food was prepared for us and more was stored in the deepfreeze. Even at night time when we were covered by their prayers, we were always in the presence of love.

The example of Jesus of Nazareth, our Creator, is to love extravagantly. Because these people had the very Spirit of Jesus living in them, they too were able to love extravagantly, to give of themselves - to us.

“Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” From Paul’s letter to the Christians in Ephesus 4:32

Kindness, tenderness, mercy - these are characteristics that need to be present in our relationship with our spouses, and not only when they are deserving. Rather these characteristics should exude effortlessly from us to our wife or husband because these characteristics are part of our God given character.

Jeremiah 22:3 - This is what the LORD says: Do what is just and right. Rescue from the hand of his oppressor the one who has been robbed. Do no wrong or violence to the alien, the fatherless or the widow, and do not shed innocent blood.

THIS is love!