What's in a word?

Good morning all-

Have you ever thought to yourself, "What's in a word?"  That's my first thought as I begin to type. One word, one name and it equals forgiveness.  That's what Jesus taught us all when He came to this earth so many years ago.  He taught love and His name is Jesus.  Love means many different things but as I was thinking about love; I realized I often confused it with fantasy over reality.

Have you ever wondered, "If God loved me, why do I have to go through this?"  Of course you have.  I often thought I was being punished because I wasn't perfect and I made mistakes and that's why love was so hard for me.  In reality, it was exactly the opposite.  God's love is unconditional.  You won't see much of that here.  God loved us so much that He came for the wicked, the confused, the murder, the adulterer and me.  Could I be anyone of these? Absolutely.  Have I been wicked or confused?  From time to time I would gather my behavior would not be seen as pristine.  But through all my bad behavior, Christ has walked with me and waited.

That's what love is.  One word that can spread joy, wipe out shame, and heal a broken heart.  One word that shows people that there is kindness, decency, and encouragement.  One word that means more than a feeling.  Love is not a feeling; it's a committment.  Do you really think Jesus could have done what He did otherwise? Who dies for people that betray Him?  Who walks with His murderer and calls Him friend?  Who stands by and watches pious people do the unthinkable and who dies on a cross and tells a killer He will be in Heaven.  Only through the love of a man, who was God, can we see this kind of love.  Today, love the way Christ did still exists in the hearts of men and women all over the world.  Hate is easy.  To love someone like Christ takes commitment, perseverance and the will to know Him.  I know because once I walked away and the further I ran the more I knew He was near.  I was more alone than I can say but something kept pulling on me and that was the love of Christ.  Failure made me walk away but love brought me back.

Love can heal nations and people.  Love can wash out evil and hate.  Love can be uplifting, encouraging and build faith. Love holds all things.  It is patient and it is kind and it lives in the Spirit that dwells within.  Remember the stories of old, Christ gave of Himself so that we would one day be with Him.  Imagine for a minute a world with no pain, no hate and love everywhere.  That's heaven and one day our thief will come and show us the love He had for mankind.  May you look upon this verse today and see Jesus as you spend time in worship.  One word and one man equals love.

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. (‭John‬ ‭15‬:‭9‬ NIV)

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. (‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭13‬:‭4‬ NIV)

Our Father died for us.  Say a pray of thanksgiving for a man that died for an unworthy people.  Praise the name of Jesus so that it can be heard in every corner of the globe.  He is real and He was and is love.  No man loved you more.  Think about that for a moment.  Be well my sisters and I hope you found Him today exactly where He always is, inside.

Until tomorrow.