Radically Loved

Radically Loved

(“Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Be tolerant with each other.” Colossians 3:12, 13a)

Do you give much thought to what others think about you? Granted, some of us think about it far too much. My brain seems to be wired in a way that is always asking, “Yeah, but what did they think about that? How did they interpret my words or actions?” Thinking through the effect of our life is a sign of maturity. But, overthinking how we are perceived by others can result in stagnation, stunting our growth into the beauty of a fulfilling life.

That is why the Scriptures so often declare God’s view of people. Frequently, we get stuck in the “humans are sinful” parts of the Bible and fail to ask, “Yes, but how does God feel about us?” If we view God as vengefully angry at us, we become vengefully angry people. If we view Him as forgiving and loving toward us, we become more forgiving and loving ourselves.

There is little doubt that people who are compassionate, kind, and humble do much more for the world than those who are abrasive and judgmental. These are the qualities of life that Father God wants for His children. Sometimes we put the cart before the horse. We demand of others and ourselves a measure of love and compassion which we may not have fully experienced.

This is why, in this verse, and throughout Scripture, we are reminded first who we are. God has called us His chosen ones. He sees us as holy. And we are dearly loved by Him! It is my firm belief that the more we actually believe we are the beloved of God, the more we will act in loving and compassionate ways.

Your identity is not rooted in your failures, nor even in your sin. It is rooted in God’s relentless tenderness that has been revealed in Jesus Christ. Brennan Manning wrote, “Define yourself radically as one beloved by God. This is the true self. Every other identity is illusion.” You cannot be holy until you see yourself as holy, set apart by God Himself. You will have trouble loving others dearly until you understand how deeply God has loved you; how radically He has loved you.

Patti and I will celebrate our 40^th wedding anniversary in just a few days. I have learned so much about the accepting, tolerant, radical love of Jesus from my wife. As much as she acts in love and forgiveness towards me, it is just as important that I know within my own heart the I am her beloved. One part of that is her responsibility; being loving. The other is mine; believing I am loved.

Take to heart what God has done in His love for you. “He destroyed the record of the debt we owed, with its requirements that worked against us. He canceled it by nailing it to the cross.” (Colossians 2:14) Inhale it deeply. Drink it as the water that slakes your deepest thirst. Every debt you owed God because you did not measure up has been “destroyed” and “nailed to the cross!” Can you imagine the freedom when you fully comprehend the depths of the Father’s love for you?

Now you can go on, enabled by your status as “the beloved” to love without fear. You can put on compassion and kindness, instead of feeling the need to correct people. You can humbly listen without being threatened by others’ opinions. You are able to be gentle in the face of fear or antagonism. And, you can patiently go at someone else’s pace instead of your own, all because you know you are the Father’s beloved child.

When a church of Jesus-followers operates out of a deep understanding of God’s love through Christ, they will be seen as tolerant. This is not because they “sugar-coat” sin, it is because they know the only answer to the sin problem is the relentless love of God shown through Jesus Christ. Not only that, people will never call that church “boring”!

Do you struggle with what God thinks about you? Then take to heart these words today: You are His chosen one. You are holy to Him. And, you are His beloved. Now, go and show that same relentless tenderness to the world around you.