This poor worn English word has the burden of carrying such a variety and depth of emotions. The word 'love' is so frequently and often carelessly tossed around. With this usage the term easily becomes distorted and devalued. Truth such as "God is love" (1 Jn 4:16 ) is changed to "Love is god", and we are left just as empty as before.
In contrast to this we have the ever-lasting and ever-faithful/unchanging love of God. It is in the midst of the darkness that the light shines (Jn 1:5). Into the brokenness God sent His Son. To the fallen world God came as the Son (Rom 5:8).
We may misuse and misunderstand words like love, and so Jesus came to show us love. He demonstrated what love looks like in ways not as easily altered as frail human words. We can warp the concept of God's love to mean whatever we want, but in His incarnation we see love depicted. He has shown us love by portraying and giving it to us. To understand love we simply need to look to the manger and to the cross.
There is much more that can be said of love, many things that I am yet to learn, but let us contemplate this mystery of God's love coming down to show us how to love and how to live.
No comments:
Post a Comment