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Today, I Choose Love







"He loves me. He loves me not."  Do you remember picking the petals off a flower in this game of chance and waiting to see if chance would bring the outcome you wanted? You may have even discarded an extra petal to win this game of chance. I was guilty of that a time or two. A silly game for sure, yet it is an excellent example of our bent to love only under the right self-made conditions. Ironically, often without meaning to, we not only place conditions on others but also on God's love for us. We find it difficult to accept that God's love is unconditional. No petals are needed. 

 In Mark chapter 2, Jesus begins His public ministry, with crowds in awe of His magnificent works and miracles of healing. People were more focused on what He could do for them than on who He was or why He came. In this chapter, Jesus establishes His authority. It seems that He experienced some definite "He loves me not" moments when those in authority resisted His claim. At the same time, some onlookers marveled at His signs and wonders. His public displays of healing and claims to be able to forgive sins intrigued the crowd, worried the authorities, and created a most unlovely situation. 

Maybe you haven't experienced the rebuttal Jesus received, but most likely, there has been a time in your life when you, too, have faced the fact that you're on the side of a "loves me not" moment. The kind of moment when you see arms crossed and the words "We've never done it that way before" is the response. Take heart, Jesus faced the same moments and endured the skepticism that bubbled and spewed out among bystanders who doubted his claim. It's disheartening to think that they had missed the point - Jesus was not a magician or a sorcerer sent to entertain them. He was God's Son sent by the authority of God to provide a way of salvation to the world. Every single inch of it, and still, they didn't get it. Jesus had to wade through the issues of acceptable practices that were the reality of the people He came to save. These include working on the Sabbath and following the Law Moses gave them for almost every area of life. Somehow, their traditions were empty, and their true purpose for practicing them was lost. 

In love and with great compassion for mankind, Jesus demonstrated His love for all humanity in an unordinary manner. He didn't call in royalty, the most influential, and those with impeccable reputations to join Him on His mission. Instead, Jesus chose ordinary people, even some with questionable backgrounds, including one who would become a traitor. Jesus chose the least likely, according to the authorities of the day, to carry out his mission. This unconventional selection was a powerful testament to His message. He left no room for the skeptics because His message was love without conditions. Most likely, there were still skeptics. Those who scratched their heads at His self-proclaimed authority were puzzled by His selection of smelly fishermen, a questionable tax collector, a doubter, and even a betrayer, along with a few others who couldn't stay awake to pray and had a problem with pride and denying Him. Jesus did the unthinkable of the day. He broke the status quo. He threw the bondages of social status, perfect lives, and worthiness out the window to show there are no "He loves me nots."

When we are tempted to weigh our worthiness of the Father's love for us by anything we can do or become, or we judge others by the same, we must remember the kind of Savior we are called to serve. When Jesus said 'all,' He meant it.

Dear friends, it is profound; yet simple. Every person we meet is someone Jesus loves. "There are no He loves me nots" with Jesus. 

In light of how God loves me, I want to choose love, look beyond the surface, and embrace the message that all truly means all. There is no room for arms crossed or conditional attitudes. Instead, a daily commitment to choose to see others as Jesus sees them is nothing less than love. 


 Because of his great love for us, "He loves me not" will never be the last petal standing.


"And it came to pass that as Jesus sat at meat in His house, many publicans and sinners also sat together with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many, and they followed Him."

Mark 2:15 KJV

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