Love Beyond Limits

Matthew 16:24 “...If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.”(NKJV)
Sometimes the call of Christ is daunting even in something as simple as loving others! Luke 6:32-34 “But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back.”
What is this Christian love? Why does God call us to such heights? These questions come to mind whenever Jesus talks of love. “This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” or in the epistles “My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.” (1 John 3:18) “By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” (1 John 3:16) I can muster up plenty of love for those who love me, but this laying down my life, kind of love really pushes the limits. But then our Lord blows those limits away, “love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.” (Luke 6:35-36)

O Lord, I see my inadequacy and need. Lord, pour out your love into our hearts, that we may love with your heavenly love. (Romans 5:5) O, how we need to be transformed by your Spirit! (2 Cor. 3:18, Romans 12:2) We pray this “being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in us will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ” to the praise of His glory! LET US LOVE UNLIMITED!