Blog: Strong Love

Strong Love

Pastor Andi BlantonDevotionals

I heard someone say that the male psyche doesn’t like love “language” or love “words” because it feels weak. I agree that the brains of men and women are wired differently. But I don’t think that men are inherently born with an idea that love is weak. I believe it is a concept that some people are taught when they are young.

The strongest man I can think of is Jesus Christ. Not because he was a fighter, but because of His Love.

Think about The Cross. I was raised Protestant, but many of my extended family are Catholic. The Crucifix was a common symbol for them, and I saw it on their walls when we would go to visit or spend the night. This Protestant kid didn’t see it very often. The Crucifix scared me; there was Jesus hanging, with blood on his face and body. I understand it’s meaning, to remind people of Jesus’ sacrifice. I was used to seeing the empty cross and I still prefer that symbol.

Whether you prefer the Crucifix or the empty Cross, the meaning is the same. Jesus willingly gave his body to be beaten and bloodied for my healing. A show of strength. Jesus willing gave himself to be tortured on the Cross and He gave his life for my salvation.

    But it was because of our rebellious deeds that he was pierced
    and because of our sins that he was crushed.
    He endured the punishment that made us completely whole,
    and in his wounding we found our healing.    Isaiah 5:35 TPT

Some say Jesus was murdered, but He had full power over what was happening. He could have changed the trajectory of the situation at any time. Instead, He gave his life for me (and you), a gift. This gift was given with no expectation of our previous response or behavior. The gift of his body, his life and as a result, our salvation was given for Love.

Now, who of us would dare to die for the sake of a wicked person? We can all understand if someone was willing to die for a truly noble person. But Christ proved God’s passionate love for us by dying in our place while we were still lost and ungodly!    Romans 5:7-8 TPT

Now, I look at the Cross, meant to be an instrument of torture, humiliation, and death, and I see LoveStrong Love. Love strong enough to lay down his life to pay for my brokenness and erase my debt. Love strong enough to show me how to “turn the other cheek.” Not to become a victim but because Strong Love knows who it has come to be and what it has come to do in the world.

And so, I am hopeful that all of humanity will one day understand and believe that Love is Strong, not weak. Love language relates strength and confidence. Confidence to know that when others are angry or perpetrating the unthinkable on one another; Love has come to see the hurt and heal it. Love has come to fill the emptiness, to make peace, and to set us free from guilt, anger and resentment.

So now the case is closed. There remains no accusing voice of condemnation against those who are joined in life-union with Jesus, the Anointed One. Romans 8:1 TPT

Love has come to dissolve our fears.

This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.We love because he first loved us. I John 4:17-19 TPT

Love has come to make us like Jesus and to make us the people God created us to be.

Love has come to show us that we are worthy to be loved just as we are.

Without love for ourselves and others, we are weak and we don’t know ourselves. Love is the strongest thread in a tapestry that binds us together and makes us stronger.