13 Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. 14 Do everything in love. -1 Corinthians 16:13-14
Many people think that to love means being weak and vulnerable. The thinking goes when you love, you open yourself up to others which allow them the opportunity to hurt you. This is actually true. There is a tremendous risk in love. You do open yourself up to be hurt and it’s highly likely you will be hurt. That’s because you’re a sinner and you’re trying to be friends with a sinner. Sinners hurt one another.
If that’s the case, why then does the Apostle Paul group “love” with strength? Check out this passage here. He talks about standing guard, standing firm, be courageous, be strong... and then to love. It seems like “love” doesn’t fit into this list.
But of course it does! You can only truly love if you’re strong. Because love requires vulnerable and exposing yourself to potential hurt, only a strong person can truly love.
How do you become a strong person who is able to love others despite the risks? You find your identity in Christ. When you receive your purpose and your sense of self-worth solely in God, you become invincible. If someone hurts you, you can forgive because though what they did hurt, it didn’t destroy your identity or your sense of self worth—you are completely rooted in Christ. This is why I believe only when we are secure in our identity in God can we truly, truly love someone else.
Maria and I hurt each other all the time. It’s because we’re sinners. But also because we both have a relationship with Jesus, we are able to forgive and to keep loving one another. Christ helps us in our marriage.
Are you loving people by finding your identity and sense of self-worth in Christ?
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