This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. John 15:12 NLT
In the moment when Jesus told His disciples this (well, moments. He actually said it several times), they doubtless didn’t give it much thorough thought. He loved them, sure. They would love each other. But think about it after His death and resurrection. Loving each other like Jesus loved them looked drastically different. All through their relationships with Him, it had been uneven. They had fought, failed, been amazing and then totally disappointing, often in the same day. Then when it came to His arrest, trial, and death, they completely failed Him. Yet he ALWAYS loved them. Loved without retaliation or recrimination. Loved completely from the heart regardless of the situation. Simply put, His love was not based on emotion.
A couple I love dearly struggles because the husband bases life and love far too much on the situations around him and the emotions in him. It affects his marriage, his family, and even his walk with God. Recently I noticed his dark, disgruntled defeat and questioned his wife, “Is he OK?”
She responded, “Oh, he’s all up in his ‘feels’ again. Things always go south when he is there.”
Whew. Yep. You know how that is. Love can’t depend on your emotions if it is to succeed in any relationship, starting with your relationship with God and flowing into all others.
Robert Wilkerson says it so well:
“The devil wants you in your feelings.
Because if he can keep you in your feelings,
He can keep you out of your purpose.
He will stir up offense.
He’ll magnify fear.
He’ll push insecurity …
Because emotions can cloud vision, and cloudy vision delays obedience.
But you weren’t called to be led by feelings.
You were called to be led by the Spirit.”
100% powerful, life-changing truth. God has a vision for your marriage. It needs to be yours. His vision is that you love each other the way He has loved you. It’s an intentional choice through all situations, above all emotions. Get out of your feelings and into your purpose.
- Jesus, loving like You is not automatic, no matter how long I have followed You. It always requires my choice. Help me.