What's Love Got to Do With It?

I took note of a young woman the other day. She wore the same clothes I'd seen her wear before. She hadn't changed her hair or appearance. But there was an air about her--and it only took a moment to realize what it was. Not only is she a woman in love; she is loved. She carries herself differently. She sees others in a new light. There is a dimension of awareness, a carefree confidence, a strident disregard for lesser things.

And I was reminded that I am loved. Set apart. Bought and paid for by a Victorious Warrior. How does Jesus' love affect the way I see the world? Others? Difficulty? Temporary treasures? As a recipient of love--real love, not emotion, but action; a choice initiated by my Creator, provided by my Savior, extended through His Spirit--it changes everything.... Absolutely. Everything.

“The Lord your God is in your midst,
A victorious warrior.
He will exult over you with joy,
He will be quiet in His love,
He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy." (Zephaniah 3:17)

For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death works in us, but life in you.

But having the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed, therefore I spoke,” we also believe, therefore we also speak, knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and will present us with you. For all things are for your sakes, so that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God.

Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. (2 Cor. 4:6-18)