Irrational Love

I was reading in Luke 6 today, the Beatitudes. Pondering the wisdom to be found there. Jesus is surrounded by people who needed healing, people who wanted answers. People like us. They came in throngs. Jesus  spoke, addressing His disciples, yet within earshot of the crowd, and carefully explained the realities of life in God's Kingdom. This kingdom life is the new reality He came to bring us. In it, He replaces our sadness and heartache, our bankrupt souls (our physical, spiritual and emotional poverty), our hunger and our thirst, our questing and questioning, with the life we all yearn for. 

Some call it the great exchange. This exchange isn't an even one. He gives us everything. We only bring ourselves. Tattered, worn and broken as we are, we are invited to come. He declares the Kingdom of God is ours! Satisfaction. Laugher and joy. He says our reward in heaven is great. Yet it begins here and now; we only need to receive it and live it out. The Message version of Luke 12:29-32 puts it beautifully when Jesus says,

“What I’m trying to do here is get you to relax, not be so preoccupied with getting so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way He works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how He works. Steep yourself in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. Don’t be afraid of missing out. You’re My dearest friends! The Father wants to give you the very kingdom itself.

Steeping ourselves in Him is the thing, because back to Luke 6, Jesus goes on and tells His disciples, to love and pray for our enemies. Of course this goes for His modern day followers too. Whoa. That's not easy. It seems a stark transition from the feel good beatitudes to loving our enemies.

But I think the transition is intentional. Operating out of His provision is the only way loving and praying for our enemies is possible. Joyful, satisfied, kingdom life is where we find it within ourselves to do this. Too often we try to do these things on our own. And on our own, even with the best of intentions, we soon loose steam and fail. 

Living His kingdom way, we understand more and more how deeply we are cherished, noticed, heard, seen, and loved by God. It slowly sinks in; we are beloved children of God. Knowing this, we have more capacity to extend this kind of irrational love even to our enemies. We give as we are given. Jesus set the example when He came, lived, and died for us when we didn't deserve it one bit. This is the kind of love the world sits up and takes notice of. This is the kind of love God's kingdom is characterized by.

I am reminded of John 15 where Jesus tells us He is the Vine we are to cling to, abide in. In order to accomplish anything, we must stay connected to Him, day by day. For me that begins with reading and praying through bits of the Bible, daily, so my heart and mind are reshaped, to help me grasp the greatness of God's love. This is the secret of kingdom living. God help me continue to cling to You, the Vine, my Savior in order to receive and then extend Your grace and love to those around me.