Look of Love

Mark 10:21 "Jesus looked at him and loved him." This singular verse is plucked mid-story from the Gospel of Mark. I tilt my head to the left as I type Dear Reader, contemplating. Jesus looked upon a young man with love and then He challenged him. Mark 10:22 "At this the man's face fell. He went away sad..." What does this bring up for you, what are you considering now? The heart breaking human story has always been unrequited love, has it not? Where does loneliness, grief, sadness and heartache come from if not from this, love given that is not returned? Note in the story snippets above, that "Jesus looked at him and loved him". He loved the young man knowing what his spiritual condition was, what he was attached to, what he clung to for his own comfort and stability. The challenge Jesus gave him was too great and the man chose to trust what he had rather than "inherit eternal life" Mark 10:17. I am piecing verses together Dear Reader. You may or may not be familiar with this story and I invite you to open your Bible and read it for yourself. Here is my driving point. Jesus loves us where we are. He has answers to our questions and they call us to heavenly realms, far beyond our human imaginings. He asks us to trust that where He leads, we are safe to follow. Not only safe, but richly, abundantly blessed. Jesus models love that surpasses understanding because He gives it and clearly, it is not always returned. His love is more often than not, unrequited and yet, He continues to love. Now this is where we get serious, you and I. Do you love like Him? Do you love when it is difficult and more than likely will not be returned? Do you love with attachment, clinging to what you know and what you anticipate as a ROI, return on your investment? How do you love Dear Reader? The challenge before each of us is to love, like this 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails." Gods love is never failing. What is your love like Dear Reader?

Are you willing to trust Him to teach you how to truly love?