SCANDALOUS LOVE
SCRIPTURE
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
一John 3:16
I feel like a pinpoint in the world whenever I find myself in an airplane flying over open land or cities. My larger-than-life world reduces me to ant status from this viewpoint. I echo David's cry, Who am I that you pay attention to me? (see Psalm 8:4).
But God paid attention to all of us when he sent Jesus. We practice the story without understanding the truly scandalous act of love this was. God—who has the power to destroy the unreceptive and the stubborn—acted in all love for every person born on this planet. Think about it. God gave his love away outrageously, generously, and selflessly when he sent us Jesus. And what happened? Jesus was rejected, despised, and crucified.
It seems scandalous to give more love than you get back. But really, we are the scandalous ones--always loving with reserve, calculating our return, hoarding more than we give. That's not a picture of God's love.
A true encounter with God's great love changes us. His love transforms us from the inside out. Knowing that we are loved wholly by God because of who he created us to be, we are freed to love ourselves in healthy ways and love others in productive ways.
Are we ready for God's love to empower every loving thing we do? When God's love is our pivot point in relationships, we understand that loving God's way never empties us. His love fills us again and again. Scandalous, isn't it? And all God wants in exchange is first place in the loves of our lives. Can we give him what he wants the most? Aren't we the scandalous hoarders if we don't?
BURNING QUESTIONS
1. When has God's generous love supported you in the past when the way you tried to love didn't?
2. Whom could you love better if you loved with God's love?
AFFIRMATION
God loves me with a scandalous love that empowers me to love myself and others God's way.
PRAYER FOR TODAY
God of unfailing Love, help me look to you for love before I look anywhere else.
SCRIPTURE
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
一John 3:16
I feel like a pinpoint in the world whenever I find myself in an airplane flying over open land or cities. My larger-than-life world reduces me to ant status from this viewpoint. I echo David's cry, Who am I that you pay attention to me? (see Psalm 8:4).
But God paid attention to all of us when he sent Jesus. We practice the story without understanding the truly scandalous act of love this was. God—who has the power to destroy the unreceptive and the stubborn—acted in all love for every person born on this planet. Think about it. God gave his love away outrageously, generously, and selflessly when he sent us Jesus. And what happened? Jesus was rejected, despised, and crucified.
It seems scandalous to give more love than you get back. But really, we are the scandalous ones--always loving with reserve, calculating our return, hoarding more than we give. That's not a picture of God's love.
A true encounter with God's great love changes us. His love transforms us from the inside out. Knowing that we are loved wholly by God because of who he created us to be, we are freed to love ourselves in healthy ways and love others in productive ways.
Are we ready for God's love to empower every loving thing we do? When God's love is our pivot point in relationships, we understand that loving God's way never empties us. His love fills us again and again. Scandalous, isn't it? And all God wants in exchange is first place in the loves of our lives. Can we give him what he wants the most? Aren't we the scandalous hoarders if we don't?
BURNING QUESTIONS
1. When has God's generous love supported you in the past when the way you tried to love didn't?
2. Whom could you love better if you loved with God's love?
AFFIRMATION
God loves me with a scandalous love that empowers me to love myself and others God's way.
PRAYER FOR TODAY
God of unfailing Love, help me look to you for love before I look anywhere else.
Posted in Lent