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Unnatural Love
Brian Mashburn
March 22, 2009
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Love Your Neighbor As Yourself?
Seriously, now, who does this?
None, perhaps. And maybe that is why it qualifies as something we wish Jesus never said.
Oh, but he does say it. He says it clearly. And in case we think he misspoke, he says it repeatedly. And in case we think it unimportant, he attaches the quality of our after-lives to it. And in case we think it impossible, he shows us how to do it on our terms, in the flesh. And in case we think it impractical for us normal "non-God-in-the-flesh" folks, his disciples all repeat his teaching, validating that they find it quite practical...the best possible way to live.
But, boy, do I sometimes feel like being unloving. What is a guy to do?
The first step is to believe. Think about it. If I don't believe that I can live a consistent life of amazing love that stands out in this world as unusual and unique...supernatural even...then I am right, I can't.
The next step is to trust. I must trust that God will take care of all of my needs in order to love my neighbor as I love myself. If I think my needs are my responsibility, then I will have to withhold my loving my neighbor as I love myself.
And finally, I must act. Love is my work. It comes through me as well as to me. And honestly, how can we really know if this kind of love is "impossible" until we actually try it? Test it?
James called it the "Royal Law" (James 2:8). Paul called it the summary statement of the Law (Galatians 5:14). And Jesus said that if we do it, we will live (Luke 10:28).
I want to be one of the guys who does it or dies trying.