Tougher Love

Many of us have heard of 'tough love', 'speaking the truth in love', and the like. Perhaps often misunderstood or not mirroring its biblical roots. It was never meant to be a license to put jagged edges on the truth as we speak it.

The context of love where truth is expressed infers the laborious building of charity and grace in healthy relationship, one with mercy and boundaries in tandem balance, resulting in what would even be a stable home wherein the relationship abides. And then, from this very place, loving truth may be clearly spoken with gentle tone, such that the strength of expression and the arm of action doing the work is the truth itself, not the intensity of the person expressing it.

And all that said...there is yet a tougher love.

What is the greatest commandment? You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your mind, and all your strength. And the second is like it, you shall love your neighbor as yourself. Greater love has no man than this, that he would lay his life down for his friends. You have heard it said, you shall love your neighbor and hate your enemies. But I say, love your enemies. Bless those who curse you. Do good to those who hate you. Pray for those who who persecute you and spitefully use you. A new commandment I give you, that you love one another as I have loved you.

For this cause, I bow my knees before You, Father of glory, that you would quicken us with might by Your Spirit in our inner man, that Christ may dwell in our hearts by faith. And we, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints its depth, length, breadth and height, and to know the love of Christ, which passes all knowledge, that we may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Now unto You, who are able to do exceeding abundantly above all we can ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to You be glory in the church, throughout all ages, world without end.

Amen.


[Compilation verses from above: Mt22:36+, Jn15:13, Mt5:44+, Jn13:34, Ep3]


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