“Follow,” that’s what Jesus had said to me last May, when I retired from my position at Arizona Christian. It’s just one word. It sounds simple. When someone says, “follow,” you follow. It doesn’t get any harder than that. You simply do what they do. Go where they go. Seems easy enough…unless it’s Jesus you are following; and, some things are just downright difficult (example: rejoicing in the midst of trials)! So, while I’ve been following a little more attentively this past year, there’s one stand-out, fall-short, heart-wrenching, I-don’t-do-well-at item that Jesus does well: love. Yes, love…plain and simple.
There it is: sincerely love, fervently love. Here’s how I know I don’t understand a Jesus-Kind-of-Love. Digging deep, I uncover what a Jesus-Kind-of-Love really looks like in a Jesus-Follower:
Deals kindly.
Responds faithfully.
Gives generously.
Doesn’t hold grudges.
Treats patiently.
Responds rightly, not out of emotional impulse.
Sacrificially commits (in spite of, anyway)
Stubbornly persists and pursues.
Always focuses on the positive.
Resets itself quickly (Ok, I have to spend a minute here. This is what I do oh.so.poorly. Whenever conflict arises, and it does, a Jesus-Follower overlooks offenses. It isn’t centered on having to be right. True Jesus-Kind-of-Love doesn’t look for fairness. In fact, it is totally an unbalanced love; because a True Jesus-Kind-of-Love always attempts to outdo The Other. It isn’t moody, touchy, grumpy, or fragile-spirited. It never pulls away, or pushes away, but leans-in to The Other at all times. True Jesus-Kind-of-Love never allows an ugly space to grow… Oh, Lord, HELP!)
See, just as I said, Grand-Canyon-Impossible! EXCEPT for Jesus. Look at what follows in Peter’s admonition to love: for you have been born again! Born again (in some circles that has become a taboo phrase, but it’s the phrase Peter uses) to new life. Born again, because there has been a death to self, and a surrender to the Spirit of God, which produces a new heart in us. A new heart that I learn to grow into… The good news is that it’s impossible for me, but not for Jesus-in-me. I tend to forget that to grow into that new heart of flesh, it’s a continual cycle of surrender, death to self, embracing my new identity, and living loved. Over and over…until one day, with practicing righteousness and loved-ness, I live rightly. I live loved. I live “hesed” (the Hebrew word for a Jesus-Kind-of-Love). Oh, Lord, please keep making me like you! If we all lived that way…well, it would be heaven!