On love

Thursday, June 13th, 1996
11:54 pm

When you develop positive feelings about someone, you will become more vulnerable to that person. If you love someone, that person could easily hurt you. If you respect someone, what that person says carries weight with you.

When you develop negative feelings towards someone, you build walls of defence between you and that person. The words of someone you despise is surely unimportant. It probably doesn’t even touch you.

So actually, the best way to make yourself invulnerable is not to love, to have no regard for anyone. Then you can be a hermit and live with yourself for the rest of your life.

But you can love God without fear, for although you know you will become vulnerable to Him, you know He won't hurt you.

You must dare to go and love and be hurt, and come back crying to the Lord, and then go and love some more, and be hurt some more. It’s the only way to live, really live.

The flipside is merely copying the motions of life.

Jesus came to love even though He’d be hurt. In fact, He came to be hurt. He knew He was going to be hurt. But He came anyway.

He didn't forgive and love people when He was sure they would change their attitudes towards Him, or treat Him better. He loved people and died for us while they were accusing Him, abusing Him.

“Love is a decision, not a feeling, and sometimes, love cuts very deeply.” – Bob Libby