Love You Too ...

I think we've all heard the familiar expression: "to love someone to death." Though I'm not positive, I think the idea behind the statement may relate to holding and hugging so tightly you could almost strangle the individual. But what I think we ought to consider is a bit of a twist to the statement. We ought to "love others TO LIFE!" This is a much more Biblical concept since it is exactly what has been done on our behalf.

This is what God's love did as demonstrated in the giving of His Son while we were still sinners ( Romans 5:9) giving us the opportunity to be united with Christ and therefore being "dead to sin but ALIVE to God in Christ Jesus" ( Romans 6:11). God is the one who "because of his great love for us ... made us ALIVE with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions...." ( Ephesians 2:4-5). God "showed his love among us" by sending His "one and only Son into the world that we might LIVE through him." ( I John 4:9)

This is what Jesus' love did in His willingness to suffer death that "he might taste death for everyone" ( Hebrews 2:9). And Jesus' desire for His disciples is that they love as He loved ( John 13:34-35; Ephesians 5:2).

So how can we love others to life? How can our love impact others to bring them to Christ, the source of LIFE ( John 1:4)? Tomorrow's message will focus on those ways.

Have a great day KNOWING THE ONE WHO LOVES TO LIFE!
Carl

(originally sent 09/11/98)

See other teEn-MAIL on Love