16 August 2005 Devotion for Today “Proactive Love” Colossians 1:1-8
Lee Strobel tells of an 8 year old girl who got caught stealing form the church bookstore. He told her that her punishment was to pay the church $20, which she of course did not have. However teaching her a lesson on grace he wrote the church a check for the amount and paid her debt for her. What is the good of a lesson like that? The lesson is one of love and grace. It is also one of good news, and the good news is that God has paid the debt.
In Paul’s epistle to the Colossians the apostle discusses many examples of love, grace, and faith in the example this church set.
1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
2 To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are in Colosse:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints; 5 because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel, 6 which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth; 7 as you also learned from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf, 8 who also declared to us your love in the Spirit.
The Colossian church must have been known for its love. Paul mentions it here twice. It is included with the other teachings of Christian gifts, but singled out and mentioned specifically. The kind of love mentioned here is the unconditional agapae love, the same love that Jesus declares will set apart his disciples The world has a flawed view of love. It’s a love that says, “If you love me, I will love you.” It says “As long as you love me, I will love you;” “As long as you do not act unloving to me, I will love you;” and especially: “If you love me, you will…”
However the agapae love says, “I will love you, because God loved me.” Love is not a feeling, it is an attitude and action.” Love is not a feeling- it is a choice, a deliberate decision. Agapae love is not reactive, but proactive. It is not based on what others do to you, but what God has done for you. Allow the love of God to be evident in your life today, and effectual in the lives of others. Do not be reactive in your love, but be proactive. Allow your love to be an expression of who and whose you are.
Have a blessed day!
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