It’s a Costly Thing to Love

Print

John’s post yesterday just about wiped me out. I’ve never seen so clearly before the consequences of closing my heart. I’ve also never really considered the cost of keeping my heart open in quite that way. If I close my heart to save myself, then keeping it open means I can – and will! – be attacked. It’s a costly thing to love people.

Let all that you do be done with love.
1 Corinthians 16:14 NKJV

That’s a really tall order! And well beyond the capabilities of any mere human being. Everything that I do? That’s one big, wide-open heart!

It’s a Costly Thing to Love as God Loves

It's a Costly Thing to Love Like God Loves
Because I work at Shulamite Ministries, I am very conscious of surrendering my responsibilities to the Lord to do. I simply can’t do the things that He’s called me to do with the Love that He wants poured into it. And while I value the fruit of this daily surrender enormously – every post I write, every podcast I contribute to, every product description I create, every order I assemble, every phone call I take, every piece of writing I edit, etc. – it still doesn’t affect me as powerfully as the fruit unlooked for out in “the wild” of my life.

When I’m out and about, I often go on auto-pilot. I move through stores and run my errands but I’m not necessarily in it. Often I’m thinking of other things, only half aware of what’s happening in the near vicinity. And more than a few times, I’ve been thrown into great spasms of panic that I wasn’t available to Him in these places. I think, what a poor vessel for the Life and Love of Jesus I must be! Yet more and more, He confirms His presence in me, regardless of my level of awareness.

A week or so ago, it was 95° in the shade, I’d been to three different stores and a gas station and had a 35-minute drive ahead of me. I was hot and sticky and tired. I went through the drive-thru at McDonald’s and ordered a large Sprite. I have no recollection of what I said or how I said it when I placed my order. But when I pulled up, the girl at the window said, “I just want to thank you for being so nice to me. Everyone’s been so mean today it seems like, and you’re just really nice! I don’t know how you do it! Thank you!”

I was flabbergasted. I stuttered and I think I said “You’re welcome” or something and I took my Sprite and started home. I cried for 15 minutes over that. I just couldn’t take in how utterly beautiful Jesus was even when I wasn’t paying attention. He wanted to give that girl lovingkindness and I was, somehow, no impediment to that. He is always so much bigger and gentler and more loving and merciful than I can take in! And these seemingly small moments are such a huge gift to me, a confirmation of His indwelling Life.

It’s a Costly Thing to Love with Your Whole Heart

It's a Costly Thing to Love with Your Whole Heart
If there’s one steady work that the Spirit’s done from the moment I was born again, it’s opening up my heart. He is constantly stretching my limits and breaking down walls and putting me in situations that I would as soon avoid like the plague. My heart is regularly being broken open wider and wider. It’s painful and scary and uncomfortable, but it does have its rewards. I don’t think I ever experienced joy as deeply as I do now. So if the lows are more painful, then the highs are also that much more ecstatic.

It’s a costly thing to love as God loves. A wide-open heart is vulnerable to every harsh word and vile accusation, every snide comment and mocking laugh, every hurled curse and pointed rejection. An open heart bruises and bleeds more often than not. And there’s really only one reason to keep surrendering to the Spirit’s heart-exposing work: the love of Jesus Christ.

He’s worth it. He’s worth all of it. I may cry and scream and vent my anger and hurt to Him, but I surrender and say yes because I love Him. I don’t want to live without Him. My life is worth nothing without Him. That’s it, that’s all, the end.

It may be the most costly thing to love as God loves, and I may bumble and fail my way into it, but I still choose it. To love is a much greater adventure than to hate, and I don’t want to miss it. Or Him!

RSS
Facebook14
Visit Us
Follow Me
Tweet
GAB
Telegram
Copy link
SOCIALICON
SOCIALICON
Subscribe
Notify of
7 Comments
newest
oldest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Winnie
8 years ago

I love your transparent ❤️ Jennifer . I am in the 11 th month of the renovation of my heart. The process has become more intense since I returned from the conference . My physical heart has healed from my by pass surgery but spiritually the Holy Spirit continues to expose the darkness ,blockage of a cold heart. I’m reminde of the lyrics of one of Keith Green’s songs . What can be done For an old heart like mine Soften it up With oil and wine The oil is you,your spirit of love Please wash me anew With the… Read more »

Marsela
8 years ago

Yes, Jen! Amen! ” And there’s really only one reason to keep surrendering to the Spirit’s heart-exposing work: the love of Jesus Christ. The love of Jesus Christ, the only reason. I was sharing the same thought with my sister over the phone, yesterday. The Lord knows, how I struggle longer at times in my Gethsemane, agonizing, but I look at His face on the cross, bleeding for me, and my heart yields. He is worth it all! “The love the love that I bespeak Works wonders in the soul, For when I’m whole it makes me sick When sick… Read more »

Lynn
8 years ago

Thank You! I needed that!!

Seth
8 years ago

This is simply beautiful and timely for me in so many ways.

Fabi
8 years ago

A hugged amen.

sue casey
8 years ago

OH Jenn, thank you for this honest, wide-open , gut level position of your open-heart to GOD and in your world. I felt the young ladies gratefulness for your kindness. Oh, your not being an impediment to HIM……your not realizing what HE was doing through you, may I not even consider myself but keep my eyes on HIM to be that conduit of “His love, gentleness, and mercy.” LOVE AND BLESSINGS DEAR ONE

Sam
8 years ago

Aha! Thank you Jen for your open-hearted blog entries. Girl, it is something to behold.

xxx