Strong spirits: extravagant love
Have I ever been overwhelmed with the love of God for me?
How can you give more love to the people you love? By being filled with love!
In Luke 7 there is a story of Jesus having dinner at the home of a religious leader. While he is reclining at the table, a woman from the community, known to be a "sinful woman" comes in uninvited. She kneels at Jesus' feet, wets them with her tears, dries them with her hair, kisses them, and annoints them with costly perfume. Why this extravagance? Simply put, she was filled with love.
An encounter with Jesus had set her free from her sins and her sinful past. She was redeemed, made new, and filled with the overwhelming love of God. She shows up, uninvited to demonstrate the love she has in her heart for Jesus.
Do I love Jesus like that? Do you? Have I ever been overwhelmed with the love of God for me? Jesus demonstrated that love fully for all of us in his death on the cross. When I realize how much he loves me, I too can be filled with that love. So can you.
Paul the apostle prayed for his friends, " I pray that you... may have power... to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." (Ephesians 3:17-19). I pray that for us as well. Want to love more fully? Be filled with love! All you need do is ask.
