Love Shed Abroad.

In the last post, we talked about the shocking statement of Jesus in Luke 9:23, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, daily, and follow me.” But does Jesus really demand our death? No, not necessarily, not in the sense that He wants us to all die as martyrs. But, Yes! He wants each of our lives in exchange for His own life. Then He will live through us.

And the result? Jesus will love through us. Romans 5:5 says, “Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”

The slant I want you to see is clear in the Old King James which translates the verse like this: “The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.”

Think of it this way: Your life is like a cup. The Holy Spirit pours love into your life in abundance, so much so, your cup runneth over. Where does all that love go? It is “shed abroad” to those you meet.

You can’t help obey the command of 1st John 3:16, “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.” A truly surrendered life will be a life that loves because Christ will love people through you. Agape love will flow from you to all those around you. And that, claims John, is proof of our salvation. 1st John 3:14 says, “We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death.”

My friend, no sacrifice is too great where love is concerned. And Christ gave us our example by dying for us. The cross is the greatest proof of His love and the greatest example of love. It is not unreasonable for Him to expect that same kind of sacrifice from us.