When I hear love is the way, I think of warm hugs, heart emojis, and and sappy cards. Love sounds easy. It sounds warm and fuzzy. For love to truly be the way, it is complicated, difficult and challenging. Often, there are no easy answers. Often, I find myself wrestling with God over next steps wishing the Bible was more of a playbook.
Yet, love calls us to lean into some situations and set boundaries in others. How do we know what the right move is? If love is the way, it is unconditional. Unconditional love is hard, humbling and sacrificial. Jesus washing the feet of the disciples is one example of what we are called to emulate.
3-6 Jesus knew that the Father had put him in complete charge of everything, that he came from God and was on his way back to God. So he got up from the supper table, set aside his robe, and put on an apron. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the feet of the disciples, drying them with his apron. When he got to Simon Peter, Peter said, “Master, you wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered, “You don’t understand now what I’m doing, but it will be clear enough to you later.” 8 Peter persisted, “You’re not going to wash my feet—ever!” Jesus said, “If I don’t wash you, you can’t be part of what I’m doing.” (John 13: 3-8 MSG)
As I try to discern the way of love, I need to make sure my choice meets the criteria of first honoring God. Second, it must honor the other, and third honors me. This doesn’t require me to become a doormat. I believe that if I am leaning into the Holy Spirit, following a God honoring direction, I will be taken care of. A burned out me is not honoring to God. I need to put myself, my egocentric, easy way out self aside, and do the hard work of love.
Love is the way. It is humbling and sacrificial, and if I am honoring God first love wins. There are many places for me to practice this work. How about you? Does love lead your choices? Do you focus on honoring God first? Share your experience here and breathe life and bring hope to others.