let love sacrifice (part 2 of 4)

     Yes there is pain in love.  Love is a sacrifice and in many ways a risk because we are asked to give away the most precious thing.  We may have to give up comfort and risk emotional safety and we may even open ourselves up to more pain - but our sacrifices bring rewards. ​

     Pain is a result of sin in this fallen world. It is the reason the world needs Him so desperately and the reason He desires to equip us with love that conquers evil and darkness.  When we exercise the power of love that is within us through Christ, together we impact the world in massive numbers and we increase the Kingdom of Heaven.  With Him in our hearts we heal wounds, lift spirits, inspire hope, encourage strength and we empower others to dream of loving like Jesus loves us, mercifully and full of grace.

• Love always applies.
• Love always matters.
• Love changes lives.

​                                                         Combating the Pain

    If you are a typical American, like me, you have access to several social media forums, internet and television.  As a Christian, I am connected to many other Christians in several forums in which I am regularly shocked by behaviors that do not represent Christ in the least.  The hypocrisy, elitism, entitlement and pride that rages through the veins of many who call themselves Christ followers suggests that they know nothing of love.  What we need to understand is that there is a way to infuse love into any argument, disagreement and rebuttal.  When we tear each other down because of our differences of perspective and opinion, we have extinguished the light that Jesus had intended to shine.  To a watching and unbelieving world, the consequences of such behaviors can be devastating.  We can really make Jesus look nasty and cause unbelievers to want nothing to do with Him when we behave contrary to His image.  That is dangerous for them as well as for us.
    Part of our ministry in this world and one of the ways we can fish for men, is to express love and share our faith even in the midst of debate and controversy.  But before any of us can take love out to others with the hope of extinguishing some pain, we have to meet with the Lord to work on our own.  When I see other Christians spewing hatred or behaving from a stance of superiority the first thing I recognize in my heart is that they are acting out of pain that hasn’t been healed.  When we have pain that hasn’t been healed, there are only a few possible reasons.  Either we haven’t asked God to heal our wounds or we haven’t believed that He can.