Are You Reactive or Proactive?

By Andrea Merrell

How wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.

Ephesians 3:18 NIV

“I’m having a really hard time with my son,” the woman told her counselor. “He can be such a good boy at times, but when he’s acting out, I have a hard time loving him.”

I can relate to her story. When I was growing up, my grandfather was kind and gentle with me as long as my behavior was perfect—at least in his eyes. When my words and actions failed to line up with his expectations, he became harsh and critical. I always felt I had to earn my way back into his good graces—and his love.

Not so with our heavenly father. He loves us with a love that far surpasses our human comprehension. There are no conditions and nothing that can make Him love us less or more. His agape love is perfect and eternal. Nothing can diminish it or take it from us.

Is it possible for us to love others the same way? The Word for You Today says:

It’s easy to love others when they are at their best. But when they are at their worst? Not so much. But that’s the test of true love. Our love tends to be reactive, but God’s love is proactive. He loves us when we least expect it and least deserve it.

One of my former pastors used to say, “Love acts, it does not react.” That means we have a choice every single moment of every single day to act (respond) to others in the way we should instead of reacting out of pride, selfishness, anger, or frustration. That’s being proactive.

Paul tells us in Romans that “God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us” (5:5 NIV). In other words, we have an abundant supply of God's love to give away.

Are you walking in love?

                            

 Photo courtesy of Unsplash.com and Kelly Sikkema.