Love Dependent

“Most of all, love each other as if your life depended on it. Love makes up for practically anything.”- 1 Peter 4:8

"Love Dependent"

The above verse is from “The Message” which I love reading. Of course, I couldn’t confess that for the past three years since the seminary I attended did not think too kindly on the accuracy and relevance of this paraphrased version. The reason I like reading The Message is that it often shows me possible meanings for verses which I may not come across using my usual exegetical means and analysis.
After reading the above passage from the fourth chapter of 1 Peter, I was reminded how much my life depends on love. I got to experience that a couple of weeks ago when my older brother from Texas stopped by to visit Brenda and me. It’s been way too long since we had last seen one another and we both need to figure out how to make it happen more often. Then last Thursday, I got to surprise my youngest son with a quick lunch get together after getting away early from an all day meeting. And again, it’s been way too long since we had seen one another (the same goes for our oldest son too).
It’s been real easy for the past three years to blame my school schedule for not seeing my family on a more regular basis, but I don’t have that excuse anymore. I need to be more dedicated in seeing and catching up with my family (anybody want to be my accountability partner?). Looking at that verse above, I am reminded how much my life as a person and as a pastor depends on my relationship with my family. I would especially not be who I am if not for the way my older brother watched out over me during my “formative years” and the way my two boys loved and supported me during the darkest times in my life. Combine that with the daily and never-ending love of my wonderful wife, Brenda, and I am one individual truly blessed beyond what God’s Grace has shown me. My life does depend on their love and of course, God’s love. With all of that love, how can I not be the person God has called me to be? Of course, during those moments where I fail to be that person, then all of that love, like the verse says, does make up for practically anything.
My prayer for those reading this is that you know and believe this too with every part of your being…