Is there such a thing as loving someone too much? It's a question I ask the Lord all the time. The bible mentions love hundreds, if not thousands of times. I haven't counted, but I know it's in there a whole bunch.
The Word tells us that we are to love others as we would want to be loved...love thy neighbor...God so loved the world, He sent His only begotten son...Greater love has no one than this, that he lay his life down for his friends...and it goes on and on and on. I used to think that I'd be in pretty good shape if I ever reached the point where I could have a love for people that I don't even know, and love the people that I do know with an intensity that the Lord has for us. I am in that place right now.
The love I have for people whether I know them or not is far greater than I could've ever imagined. But, here's the catch that comes with a great love like that...it hurts. When someone cries, you may as well take a knife and stab me right in the heart. It doesn't matter if those tears are out of joy or sorrow, I feel it to the core of my heart. It can be so overwhelming at times. I can only imagine (or maybe not) the magnitude at which the Lord must feel these same emotions. It's too much for a human being.
So, how do I remedy that? Do I stop looking people in the eyes so I don't feel emotion toward them? Do I allow my heart to become hardened just enough to protect myself? Do I just tell myself that no one cares as much as I do, so why bother?
The answers: No...to all of the above. The Lord sent Jesus to die for me. The Lord loves me far more than I will ever love anyone. Even when I turn away from Him, He continues to pursue me and love me. His love for me is unconditional. The very least I can do is try to be more like Him each and every day and if my heart hurts a little due to growing pains, I need to give the pain to Him and allow Him to do a good work in me and stretch my heart to it's very limit and then stretch it some more. I do not want to harden my heart, but rather, I want to grow from one experience and emotion to the next. My heart is what makes me...well,ME. I'm learning to love who that person is.
Father, I thank you for the gift of love. What an incredible emotion. I ask that you grow my heart to hold all of the love that You have given me to express outwardly. Help me to see that I am not weaker because I have so much love to give. Help me to see that it is Your love that I am expressing to others and not my own. Thank You for Your love that is never ending. Thank You that You meet me where I am at. I praise You. In Jesus name. Amen.
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