Radical love.

 I was doing a workout today with Autumn Calabrese and the term, radical self love came up. It stopped me dead in my tracks. Do I radically love myself? 

Scripture says, love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your mind, and with all your soul. And then add to that, love others as you love yourself. But what does this look like in real time? In real, day to day, moment to moment life? 

In this journey of faith , what I have come to know is that I can’t love others well if I don’t love myself. I can’t love myself well if I don’t know radical love in the One whom radically loves me and stay vitally connected to this love. 

Radical love is found at the foundation of our faith in what Christ did thousands of years ago on the cross. It was him paying a love debt that I could never pay because of the imperfect condition of humanity. We see it everyday. I don’t have to look too far to see imperfections in myself and in others. 

I could never meet loves standard of perfection. I miss the mark every time. I lose my temper or say something unkind or when I hold onto a grudge a little too long.  The list goes on and on. 


1 Corinthians 13 shows us what love is… it is kind, and patient. 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 perseveres, always trusts, always hopes. Love never fails. 

When I used to read this Scripture, I would be well aware that I can’t love like that in and of myself. I tried to do this in my own strength and fell short every time.  A self loathing instead of self love set in and I found myself void of the one thing I really longed to give myself and others, radical love. But God! He showed me this Scripture is not how I love myself and people, this is how HE loves me and loves people. Truth bomb!! This is love in real time… in action…allowing him to love me like this. Receiving this radical love that I could never muster up or be perfect in but only experience through a progressive relationship with my Creator through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. Abiding with Him who is love, connects me to the power source of love. This is what radical love cost and it is a debt that I could never pay. It was purchased for me and because of that, I get to radically love through him.

 I need his help daily. To lean in, to lean on this truth of being loved instead of performing for love and acceptance. Out of this flows love for yourself and love for others. We are human beings not human doings. 

I am already accepted, I am already perfectly loved, and friend, so are you. So if you are finding it hard to radically love who you are, I’ve been there. I know this journey far too well. But I have a word for you. What you do does not determine how loved you are, what Jesus did for you is proof of how loved you are. You are his beloved child. So radically love yourself, radically accept yourself how you are right now. Lean in to the greatest love you will ever know. He is right there waiting to meet with you. 

He met with me in all my worst moments. He whispered over me, Come.. come to me with all your messes. Come to me with all your hang ups and hurts. Come let me love you and see how I will deliver you. I will pull you out of the deep pit. I have called you by your name and you are mine. 

I have tasted and seen the Lords goodness to me. I have experienced his mercies. I am here to tell you he is no respecter of persons. What he did for me he will do for you. All you need is to believe. 

Dive in. Taste and see the goodness of his love. Taste and see his mercies that are new every morning. Taste and see how strong and loving he is. It’s an adventure and it is oh so worth it. 

He conquered sin and death for us so we already have everything we need to live a victorious life, not one of defeat but one conquered by perfect love and perfect love casts out all fear. 


With you and love you! 


Tracey Hanko. 

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