More

I think I'm still on the subject of love. It makes us do crazy things, don't you think? But what I'm noticing is that the number one thing love seems to do is sacrifice. That's how you know it's love. If there isn't sacrifice, there isn't love. And I think if we look at our example, this ultimately proves to be true about his life as well.

He sacrificed more than any created thing could possibly ever sacrifice for love. He did it daily. It wasn't just the death on the cross that was sacrifice. It was his daily death that proved his love. His sacrifice reached its peak on the cross and that might be the most memorable part...but it's not the only part.

Christ left perfect comfort and peace and harmony. He left the very presence of God. He came to a place that was dirty and put himself in the mix. He felt the absence, the desperation, the way we have to cry out for God the Father in order to accomplish things. He decided to feel what we feel. Can you even imagine? I know pain...but I know it because I know peace. I continue to contend that we know nothing but by contrast. Can you imagine the contrast Christ felt in coming to this earth? He knew a different reality. I imagine he was a man of many tears. In prayer, I've had my gut wrenched with pain over grief and thought my very chest was going to collapse, but I imagine daily he knew a reality of sacrifice that we cannot even begin to imagine.

Isn't it interesting what happens to us when we know someone is sacrificing for us? We know that means they love us. It's almost always like, "You didn't have to do that. You shouldn't have gone out of your way for me." Why do we say things like that? If they didn't we'd contend that they never do anything for us...no, love is known for it's sacrifice. We almost expect it though we shy away from it.

I have no clue why these thoughts are on my mind today. Maybe it was something my dad said last night...maybe it was my dreams...maybe it was the love of my roommate. It's definitely got something to do with "Start the Machine." (wow.) I don't know...just thoughts from a random me.