True Love

Have you ever thought what the greatest "love" relationship is?

I am sure you have, since it is Valentines Day. True love will lay its life down and sacrifice for another. True love fulfills their responsibility even when it is hard, "As unto the Lord" and does not run away from it. True love says, "Not my will but thine be done". This is the "greatest, Nobelist and purest form of love". It is the similar type of love your parents sacrificed for you or when soldiers including those in "The Force" of public service, lay their lives down for another... it is physically manifested.

God's love transcends all understanding especially by today's Feminist's. The type of love which gives up career and self fulfillment in order to lay it down for a child entrusted to them or their "own" family is difficult for them to comprehend. It is hard for those who are self absorbed, self serving to understand sacrificial love. They say words like "get a life" or "you should have fulfilled yourself" or "you see, you are just wasting your time being co-dependent and can't let go". How sad that is for those who do not understand the kind of love Jesus sacrificed for us. They would have said the same to Him. For He NEVER lets us go once we are His.

Jesus tells us the story of the lost sheep and how the good Shepard left the ninety-nine to go after just the one. The world would consider this foolishness, co-dependency and dysfunctional. They would say, "you've got enough under your charge, stop being so consumed, controlling and let that sheep have it's own life!". Yet Jesus never did. His analogy of how God the Father interacts with human beings shows us what true love really is. God the Father is consumed with His children both young and old alike. He went after "the one" He loved and was not moved by the prevailing culture or how society views relationships.

If God were being judged by "Today's Modern Society" as the example of a true father, he would be considered extremely controlling, co-dependent and dysfunctional.

This is the error the world makes...They DO NOT understand "Love"

God does not take sin lightly and expects His children of "all ages" to submit to Him as their Father and authority even if they don't like it. He wants them to honor him, obey him no matter what, even if they feel misunderstood, "cloistered in" or their life is not as they hoped. His boundaries are set for our protection as He sees beyond our comprehension. He does not accept excuses for rebellion, slander of His parenting skills or disloyalty in the camp. He does not follow opinion polls pulling His daughters far away from home to ministry, that override Him or usurp His authority no matter how sym "pathetic" they may sound. When things were difficult, He would expect His children to be there, trusting that all things would work together for their good as they learned to love Him and are called according to His purpose as "adopted" children. The Lord would not support His sons or daughters taking matters into their own hands or going back to their former father of the world even if they were unhappy. He would still call them back to Him.

You may say, "but my Mom and dad are NOT God, they have not been all that I hoped".

I will answer, "this is absolutely true" and than I will ask you..." are you all that your parents hoped you to be in the way you honored or obeyed them? Was God taken by surprise in the parents He chose for you? Do you think He knew your father or mother were not going to be perfect, that they would make mistakes and maybe even hurt you? Do you think you have done or will do better? Do you believe you will never make mistakes when you are married, never to hurt your spouse or children...even if it was unintentional or perceived wrong? Will you need forgiveness or God's grace to you by those you love?

Dear one...the Lord says, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God". That means "ALL" including every mother or father on this earth not just yours!

True love understands this. In God's amazing plan, He made provisions even for the imperfect parent to be honored, biblically submitted to by sons and daughters of every age, not just until they turn 18. Until a father's authority is transferred through marriage or a son is appointed by the father these are the Commandments of God. Though the dynamics of their relationship changes, parents are still be honored throughout life.

Are you still "keeping a record of wrongs" from your upbringing? Are you trusting God to work His very best plan for you through the parents He chose to raise you? Have you thought what you have learned and how much you have grown as a result? Have you forgiven?

If not, than God's word says you will not be forgiven.

Where is "True Love" for your father, your mother, your sister or brother? I am NOT just speaking to just youth here but to adults too! I have heard that turmoil in ones life may be traced back to how much we honored our own parents. This is not to say that anything specifically happening in your life right now is a direct result of dishonoring or breaking your parents heart. But prayerfully look back and carefully consider your own relationship with them. Is it "well with you" like God promises to those who keep the 5th Commandment? Or is it only "well" because your parents were gracious enough to forgive you in spite of your behavior?

Have you humbled yourself, sincerely gone back to ask them to forgive you for your part? Are you still keeping secret sin because you are too proud to admit your wrong, a failure or full of fear? Have you thought how this is hindering God's blessings in your life? Being a grown adult or under another authority through marriage is not an excuse to ignore past sin or dishonor your parents no matter how many years have passed.

This Valentine's Day, I encourage you to honestly think about how much you love your family. Not just the ones in your life through marriage but those parents given to raise you including your siblings as a reflective barometer of how much you love God. I want you to ask yourself if you are willing to humble yourself, trusting Jesus to work all things together for your good as you submit to His plan of choosing "your parents" to raise "you" and to be your authority.

How much do your understand what sacrificial love really is? Not the kind that gives unconditionally for a while, maybe even years, than gives up when things don't change. But the "True Love" that remains constant, faithful and loyal no matter what. The kind of love that never fails. I pray you continue to grow in this type of love... to love your family by coming home to God through repentance. If you are not right with your parents or your family, ask them to forgive you. Humble yourself and admit your failings then serve them as unto the Lord under your father direction or if married through your husband's leadership, trusting God made no mistakes in choosing them just for you.

It is amazing how much grace the Lord gives parents to forgive their sons or daughters when they are sincerely broken and reverent. Many times parents already sensed something was wrong and were just waiting for their children to finally grow up and show mature accountability.

Now be thankful! You became the wonderful person you are with all the intricate levels of lessons learned because of your family, chosen just for you!

When you humble yourself before your parents or your family, you will be blessed beyond measure and reconciled with God. His grace will pour out on everything you do. You will see many doors open you thought were closed and the desires of your heart will have chance to finally take root. Then the grace of God pour out to helping you to reconcile all your relationships in a way you never thought possible. You will be crowned with a peace that passes all understanding, radiating and reigning in your heart! Then you will find what "True Love" really means.