had read this passage many times before.. never picked up on it before though...Philippians 1 : 3-11.... talks about the "affection of Jesus"
so excited to be able to put a name to the tremendous love I feel for so many people in my life...
since becoming a Christian I have encountered many fellow believers and have felt that overwhelmingly intense love for them, pure and wholesome, it still has left me at my wit's end sometimes because I didn't know what to do with it... reaching out with encouraging words, acts of service and help and a commitment to pray for them, delighting in their company... all of that sometimes just didn't seem to be enough....
truth is I love them with the affection of Jesus.... how exciting is that.... the most wonderful kind of love there is, Agape love, totally unconditional and selfless... a sacrificing love... a love that does not expect anything in return... but out of this love one is willing to lay down his life .. giving of my time and attention freely....
He loves us like this.... He did give His life... He is intimately involved in our lives, willing to give us all His attention and all the help and support we ever need....
2 years ago, after my heavenly Father gently had led me through the 13th chapter of Corinthians, burning away any selfish fiber in my heart ( like only He can )... any expectation and demand... when by showing me how I had failed to love my husband the way He had wanted me to, He enabled me to do a better job loving like this...
it baffled all my brothers and sisters in Christ back then, why God would have done that only for it being too late, for him to walk away anyways... wondering why the timing seemed to be so off...
well, with God nothing is ever off.... I think He purified my heart, taught me even in a marriage setting to love His way and then released me.. for such a time as this... my future, my hope... the marvellous plans He has for me... I am loving my mother, my sister with this love again, and even my Ex husband ... never had a problem to love my kids that way... and my fellow Christians....
prepared for a new life with the man that God has for me... it fills me with excitement... and anticipation... (patience still an issue sometimes :( )... but I know that He is good... He always is....
the affection of Jesus... such a wonderful, wonderful thing.... such a precious gift, undeserved and all consuming... filled up inside with it... it is a privilege to share it.... #SoliDeoGloria
