Reckless Devotion
Posted by: bneumann848 <bneumann848@...>
My church is
reading the devotional book “Reckless Devotion: 365 Days into the Heart of
Radical Love” by Heidi and Rolland Baker (Chosen Books, a division of Baker
Publishing Group). I’ll admit that, even after only ten days, it has challenged
me. Reckless devotion to God’s kind of radical love. Nothing to fear, right?
First Corinthians
13, perhaps the most famous text on the subject of agape (God’s kind of love), tells
us that faith, hope and love abide – these three; but the greatest of these is
love (vs. 13).
In Galatians 5, love
is first on the list of the fruits of the Spirit (vs. 22). In fact, the entire
law is summed up in this single command: Love your neighbor as yourself (vs
14).
Love does no harm
to its neighbor (Romans 13:10). It is patient and kind. It is not envious or
jealous, boastful or haughty. It isn’t conceited or rude. It doesn’t insist on
its own rights or its own way. It isn’t touchy, fretful or resentful; it pays
no attention to a suffered wrong. It rejoices when right and truth prevail. It
bears up under everything and believes the best of every person. Its hope never
fades and it endures everything without weakening (1 Corinthians 13:4-7).
Loving God’s way
is a radical departure from the world’s way of thinking. Our carnal nature
rails against it – or maybe that’s just me. Jesus told us the world would know that we are His disciples by our love for one another. Are we letting that love shine? Perhaps it’s a one-day-at-a-time
choice to be surrendered to Jesus in order to become progressively more like
Him – until it’s no longer I who live but Christ living in me (Galatians 2:20).
God is calling us to reckless devotion to Him. Will we answer the call?
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