Let Them See LOVE

I confess I am a pushover for a good love story. Since a teenager I have been drawn to the works of the Bronte' sisters, Jane Austen, Margaret Mitchell and the like. Their stories were of deep devotion and transforming love. Yet, when I consider why these love stories were so impacting on my heart, I find the element of suffering to be a component of all. The journey of each heroine includes struggle, loss, hope, and deep longing; despair in the pursuit of a great love. Pain plays a part of the great quest!

Why must love hurt? A short answer would be, no pain, no gain. However, that is both trite and unsatisfying. So I look at the association between love again and again and a picture forms in my mind.

The stars hung in the sky, yet their light paled in comparison to the One kneeling in the garden. Love compelling Him to humble Himself and deny the power which He IS.
The journey had been long for the Master: a thousand years times thirty-three. Still, His eyes-though wet with grief-stay fixed upon the Father. His ancient purpose the highest goal.

Agony dripping from his crimson brow, He seeks earthly comfort. Glancing over His shoulder, He is reminded of the situation. Scattered upon the grass, fast asleep, his little lambs bay a slumber chorus. All,unaware of the wolves climbing the hill. His heart aches with love for them: the sleepy crew who is never truly awake. Oh, but how He would shake them and wake them up to eternity come three morns!

I see love when I look at the cross. The love of God in the gift of His Holy Son. The love of a Holy Son, submitting to the will of His Father. Love is also found in the weeping man, who feared pain and tore himself from the hand of God, only to experience a far greater injury. I hear love in the wails of the women upon the shadowed hill and in the dew drenched garden. Love wrenching their hearts, turning them inside out and causing them great despair as they thought their love story was at its end.

Behold the LOVE of God!

Their lantern light trail flickered in the distance announcing the start of a new Act. He could have handled them on His own. His very name spoken sent them reeling. Yet being LOVE, His care for them all subdued Him, so none would descend the hill wounded. The Almighty allowed vapors to bind His hands.

In every step taken between the worlds great pillars of darkness Jesus expressed love. When the whip of man's tongue cut His heart, He chose to show love. With every tear of His flesh, He expressed love by enduring the assault. The Lord poured out love, His very blood, through the streets of Jerusalem as he ascended Golgotha. His body a torn, messy, mass of loves expression. Love endured the horror of His mother's terror. Love tolerated the suffering of His sheep. Love, bore the wickedness of Hell, the massacre of his flesh, the tainting of His character, the torture of His Spirit as it was ripped-like the Temples curtain-away form God's presence. The creation shook, threw bolts of lighting and roared in agony on account of love! For He that created everything that was good out of love, absorbed all that was evil because of love.

"Love covers a multitude of sin," (1 Peter 4:8)

The cost of love is something we may not think about on a day to day basis when things are going well. Yet, sometimes circumstances change in the middle of the night and we are suddenly aware of the effort it takes to express true love. It is not likely we will all express love as Jesus did. Still, no doubt we must strive to-in His strength-pour love out in our stories.

Some of us will restrain our authority and power through meekness for love. Some, will suffer the pain of our loved ones suffering, as we walk through the valley of death or disease with them for love. Many of us will be challenged to chose love over the sins of others. Mothers, we like Mary, will place our children in the hands of God and trust the LOVE of our Father because of love.

Pain is no doubt part of the greatest romance stories. Deep love, will warrant great sacrifice. Jesus called us to love. It is a command. Therefore, we know we will suffer. However...

"Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb...Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus' body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. They asked her, 'Woman, why are you crying?'
"They have taken my Lord(LOVE) away," she said, "and I don't know where they have put him." At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there...

"Woman," he said, "why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?" (John 20:1-15)

Like Mary's, in the painful parts of my love story, my tears can blur my vision, though Jesus stands before me. I too must answer the Lord's question in times of sorrow; "Who is it, Tracy, you are looking for?"

Dear God...I am looking for LOVE! Help me Father see Him. Give me the strength to express Jesus in my story.