I love great quotes!! I have been reading through this amazing book called, The Barbarian Way, and I just came across this part that fits so perfectly with what is driving this blog, that I had to share.
"Anyone who chooses the barbarian way will learn quickly that love and sacrifice cannot be separated. This is perhaps why so many of us who know love fear love. We know that love is not the absence of pain. If anything, love is the promise of pain. No one has loved more deeply than God. Has everyone ever been more betrayed? God would not know suffering if He did not know love. But because He is Love, He chose to suffer on our behalf. Without love there is no glory in suffering.
The suffering of Christ glorifies God because it elevates love. Compelled by love, God would go where He knew suffering was certain. Love always moves to sacrifice, which is exactly where He calls us to go. We shouldn't be surprised , then, that to follow Christ is to abandon luxury of safety and security. If we are to be like Him, WE MUST ALWAYS RISK FOR LOVE." (I added the all caps!)
Loving fearlessly is both recognizing the pain and sacrifice that one may very well encounter by such fearless acts, but also that because of Him, it is worth it! It is both following His lead, but also realizing that His love for us is enough, and that having that far out weighs any pain we may go through to as we pursue a life fully lived for Him. His love and presence in our life drives out fear, and empowers us to take on risks in our pursuit towards loving like Him.
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