Love

What more can you title this devotion other than, “Love?” But, I might also title it, “One-Sidedness.” The Word of God can simultaneously afflict the comforted and comfort the afflicted, so this sermon was delivered in such a way that was so convicting, yet, so freeing and full of Good News! It always gives me pause to consider what Jesus did for Judas - what non-self-preserving love looks like. I hope you have to stumble on that for a minute. May it challenge your theology, preconceptions, and limitations on love as it does mine.

I went back and listened for this one spot (and on the recording it happens at about the 46:50-ish time mark) where Joe talks about love being reciprocal. Reciprocal is just a word replacing the phrase, “done in return,” or “given back.” Now, Joe didn’t say this, but I think it gets close to the mark - we want everything loving we do to be given back to us. But maybe, if we’re honest with ourselves - perhaps our initial giving wasn’t done with such a great heart, or maybe we’ve developed a pretty high opinion of ourselves to think that we deserve such returns on investment. A word of warning though: If you only serve people who can consistently love you back as you expect, that’s a fairly safe way to live and safe doesn’t always equate to fulfilling.

Now, I’m going to try to articulate a weird thing, so please forgive me, but the thing I think I’m surprised by is how many Christians tend to be caught off-guard with disappointment from others. I’m always shocked at how we think we should be treated “better.” We're stunned when we encounter offensive behavior towards ourselves. A certain finger in traffic, gossip directed at us, a business screw-job, etc.

What tends to happen after enough of these encounters is a callous, protective cynicism develops even to Christians. The problem is, this callousness often turns into self-preservation and an unhealthy self-investment. In other words, a chain reaction of selfishness is initiated.

Now, perhaps this isn’t you. That’s awesome! Praise the Lord! Then I’m only talking to people who act like me. The problem is, I’m a pretty average guy. So, maybe this only matters to 30-40% of you. That’s great! So, for the few that are like me, what’s the remedy to this?

I think it’s one-sided love. How high-minded and angelic, right? What an esoteric concept disputed only by theologians, right? Maybe not. There are so many elements to this, and so much wisdom to apply, but to start - Love wants only the best for another person and the Love in you wants to supply it and/or model it. 
 
See, it doesn’t just work one way like we’ve been taught sometimes. Bad company isn’t always going to corrupt you. That understanding seems to be taken a touch out of context. The passage where it’s from is hyper focused on the physical resurrection. A life without physical resurrection hope will cascade down to your morals because, what hope will you have?

This is very different.  Influencing through love?  That’s possible. I’ve seen it. The problem is, I think we work in such fear sometimes that we don’t try it, because living fearless love might look a little like Judas at the table...some things are on the line at that point.

Even still - be willing to love one-sided this week. Love the hell outta people. I, sincerely, love typing and saying that, because there’s nothing more literally true. Pastor Joe put one of my favorite terms in my head: co-laboring. Co-labor in this and be in awe! Faith, forgiveness, salvation? These words are a little more than I think we give them credit for. These words are actually miracles when they occur. They don’t happen without Jesus dying for our sins and rising from the dead! Those words and that act are intimately connected!

I don’t know what non-self-preserving love looks like for you, but it will often exclude your ego, your pride, your offense, and your right for vengeance. It’ll be so odd that your enemies won’t understand it, but, they may see something they like in you.  Be ready to share your hope, in love, and then we’ll all get to meet them at All City.