Falling!

Falling hurts. The body can become bruised, the skin can get scraped up, and bones can be broken. It can also be deadly. However, the most painful and devastating falling may be that of falling OUT OF LOVE. Perhaps you have been hurt in the process of parents or other close relations falling OUT OF LOVE and separating. You may have experienced the pain of someone falling OUT OF LOVE with you. Maybe it was you who did the falling.

It seems we live in a world where people far too easily fall OUT OF LOVE with one another and my heart goes out to those impacted by such. Sometimes it can seem easier for a broken bone to heal than for the heart to do so when relationships fail. Though there may be many factors setting the stage for falling OUT OF LOVE, often it boils down to pure selfishness on the part of either one or both individuals. Too many people focus more on what they want than on what they can contribute to a relationship. Loving in the manner God intended must be seen as a choice and be characterized as GIVING and SELFLESS. Is that not the manner in which God has shown His love? It that not what was clearly demonstrated in the coming of Jesus into this world? If we do not focus on the significance of all involved, none of our relationships will be right, including the relationship with the Lord.

In Jude's short letter, he presented some encouragement, but also some very serious warnings. In verse twenty-one we read. . .
"(21) KEEP YOURSELVES IN THE LOVE OF GOD, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life." ( Jude 21 ESV)

Though love is very much a part of God's Divine essence ( 1 John 4:8), Jude's urging implies it is possible to depart from the LOVE OF GOD. I think such falling away from the LOVE OF GOD must be due to a lack of fully recognizing how much love God has for us. To know He does, how could we possibly fall OUT OF LOVE with Him?

Because of their departure, the church at Ephesus was urged to remember from where they had fallen because they had abandoned their first love. ( Revelation 2:4-5) They were in need of repentance and returning to the Lord.

Oh, how it must break God's heart to see so many who are not IN LOVE WITH HIM; especially those who were once in that love and then fell away. However, as long as there is life there is hope of the relationship being renewed. Praise God for the mercy that leads to eternal life!

There is a song which has been around for a number of years that goes: "I keep falling in love with Him over and over and over and over again. I keep falling in love with Him over and over and over and over again. He gets sweeter and sweeter as the days go by. Oh, what a love between my Lord and I. I keep falling in love with Him over and over and over and over again."

Yes, KEEP FALLING IN LOVE WITH HIM! May that characterize our relationship with the Lord so we never find ourselves falling OUT OF LOVE with Him. Then, with the focus properly centered in that relationship, our other relationships stand a better chance of falling into proper place as well. Let us GENUINELY AND SELFLESSLY LOVE as we value all the relationships we have.

Have a great day NURTURING A GODLY LOVE TO SUSTAIN ALL OUR RELATIONSHIPS!
Carl

See other teEn-MAIL on Love