Me:  Prodigal, you are speaking truth with that statement!

 

Prodigal:  Haha, I knew you would love this!

 

I am going to talk about God’s love today and talk about what it is and what it is not.

 

Frederick Buechner in the book Breakfast for the Soul gives us a wonderful description of how God loves us.

 

The power of God stands in violent contrast with the power of man.  It is not external like man’s power, but internal.  By applying external pressure, I can make a person do what I want him to do.  This is man’s power.  But as far as making him be what I want him to be, without at the same time destroying his freedom, only love can make this happen.

And love makes it happen not coercively, but by creating a situation in which , of our own free will, we want to be what love wants us to be.  And because God’s love is uncoercive and treasures our freedom–if above all He wants us to love Him, then we must be left free not to love Him–we are free to resist it ,deny it crucify it finally, which we do again and again. 

 

God’s love is freedom.  When we try to control others and force external pressure to make their behavior look just like we want it, then this is manipulation.  This is not God’s love.  True love is when that person in their heart has decided to love you not because of external pressures but because of internal.

I have the most wonderful friends and family.  I do not force my love ones to love me.  They for some reason beyond my understanding have decided in their internal hearts and with freedom to love me!  They know our relationships are based on freedom and the holy spirit has guided us together  for such a time as this!

 

Psalm 85:10

Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.

 

Jennifer Van Allen

 

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org