Love Dare - Day 19: Love Is Impossible

Well, that title does not sound very encouraging, does it? Love is IMPOSSIBLE? Then what they heck are we doing this for? Well, I will tell you...

"Let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God." - 1John 4:7

Love is impossible ... WITHOUT GOD! And that is what this whole dare is about. We can not even begin to know, in ourselves, true agape love. Can't even come close. Not without Him.

Oh, you could probably find in yourself some warm and fuzzy feelings, or physical attraction, or genuine friendship. You may even be able to find, in all of your humanity, the ability to forgive and forget some offenses. But, warm fuzzies can turn into cold pricklies, lust fades and friendships are tested. And forgiveness, well that is something else all together. Truth is, it is hard to truly forgive with the kind of permanence that does not let us bring it up again, if only in our thoughts. But, TRUE love CAN and DOES love that way.

True love, the kind that can only come from HIM, allows us to ALWAYS find something warm and fuzzy, to CONSISTENTLY find an attractiveness in our mate, to have not only agape love toward them, but also phileo and even eros. And TRUE love forgives. We love because HE first loved us, and we forgive because we are forgiven by HIM. We can only do this THROUGH Him. And we must allow His love to flow THROUGH us!

If you have never allowed Jesus into your heart, please hear me when I say you can now. There is a freedom in Christ that you will never find without Him. He lived for you - coming from the perfection of Heaven to live an earthly existence. Giving up the clouds to walk on dirt and mud. Leaving the throne of Heaven to be placed in a manger. Coming from the right hand of God into a young girl's inexperienced arms. Walking from the presence of angels to be surrounded by sinners. Why? So He could set those sinners free. So He could set ME free. So He could set YOU free. He did it for YOU - I pray that you find that truth today.

We love because He first loved us. He loves YOU, no matter what. You love because He loves... Just think of how much more you could love if you ACCEPT and let His love dwell in you. Jesus is very polite, he will knock softly on your heart's door, but will not come in unless invited.

I beg you to invite Him today.

Invite HIS love in. And then you will be able to truly love.

And if you are a believer, do not look for this perfect love within yourself - you will not find it. Look for it in Him ... it is there, and there alone.

TODAY'S DARE

Look back over the dares from previous days. Were there some that seemed impossible to you?Have you realized your need for God to change your heart and to give you the ability to love? Ask Him to show you where you stand with Him, and ask for the strength and Grace to settle your eternal destination.

This is the turning point in the movie. It is where Caleb - who was wanting the divorce as much as, if not more than, Catherine - truly begins to LOVE her. He finds that love in Christ and in Christ alone. And that love, REAL love, makes the difference in his heart and in his motivation. Everything up til now has been half hearted, and this is where he truly begins to love her again.

I am praying that YOU find that love again too ... even if you never really lost it!

See ya tomorrow!