One of the most important
aspects of love is that it places certain responsibilities on us towards our
object of love. I am sure we all know this truth. That is why we value (or do
we?) our relationships with the people we love and cherish.
One way by which this
responsibility manifests is that it helps us to draw rein on our emotions and
any agitation of our feelings. I like the way 2 Cor. 5:14a
puts it: "For the love of Christ constrains us..." In this verse, I can almost
hear the screeching sound of the wheels of charging emotions, halted by the
timely advent of the all-conquering love of God! The love of God constrains
us!
The Message Bible renders this
verse thus: ..." For the love of Christ CONTROLS us..." (Emphasis
mine).
And for a lot of couples, this
happens almost on a daily basis. All the time.
See, it's easy to justify this
kind of behaviour like most people do. But this is no way to live!
Nobody benefits anything
meaningful in the long run acting this way.
Temporary respite, yes.
Feeling in control, yes.
But truth be told, vilifying
others especially as a 'normal' way of relating not only displeases God, it
also calls to question our claim of being in love, first with God and then with
our fellow human beings at all levels. The Love of God inside us controls us. It
helps us to respond with grace when we are hurt. The love of God compels us to
seek constructive ways of peacefully resolving issues so that our relationships
get better by the day.
Because we love God and are
operating in His love towards others, that love restrains us from acting in
ways contrary to God's ways no matter what.
So God's love motivates us to
seek peace and pursue it; refuse to indulge our negative impulses but rather
take steps that will deescalate impending crises. God's love helps us pray for
those who hurt us and wait on God for the best way to respond to challenges
that come our way.
Here's a challenge to us all to
give God's love a chance to help us build sturdy bridges across troubled waters
in all of our relationships.
When we are offended like we
will surely be, rather than responding in kind, let us consciously stir up the
love of God on our inside, and allow it to steer us in the right path of
productive resolution of the issue at hand. If love is not in control of
our emotions and actions,
then anger is!
Pride is!
Self is!
And how far can you go with
that before you self-destruct somehow?
How true!
Remember, according to Proverbs 10:12,
love covers all sins.
Shalom.
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