Measuring an Easter Kind of Love

“I asked Jesus, ‘How much do you love me?’ And Jesus said, ‘This much.’ Then He stretched out His arms and died.” – Unknown

Ever wish you could measure love?  Sometimes I think if there was some sort of measuring stick for love, it might be easier to “walk in love,” “life a life of love,” live a life worthy of God’s love,” and to live-loved, as Paul encouraged in each of his epistles.  I am also of the opinion it would be easier to help others, myself included, who struggle (no matter their age) with the question of worthiness.  I keep seeing how not having an accurate understanding of our God-given, Christ-identity leaves us lacking in confidence, courage, and a real sense of belonging (and when I say belonging, I don't mean fitting in). Yet the question of measurement is ridiculous, as well as redundant.  We all know love cannot be measured.  We even sing about it around Easter-time:

How deep the Father's love for us,

How vast beyond all measure,

That He should give His only Son

To make a wretch His treasure.

Some have tried, and done a fairly adequate job on a human level.  Who hasn't seen the little sign with the quote above...  Even some of the newer praise choruses show worthy attempts:  His love's like a hurricane, and I am a tree, bending beneath the wind of his grace and mercy...

Paul may come the closest in Romans, when he writes:

While we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.  For one will scarcely die for a righteous person – though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die – but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:6-8).

So ponder these facts from this verse, for they each hold a key to knowing the breadth, the length, the height, and the depth of God’s love.  In fact, to a certain degree, at least, these verses are our “measuring stick.”  In fact if we weren’t able to understand even a bit, then why would the Apostle Paul have wasted his breath praying this for us in Ephesians 3:18?  For this reason I bow my knee before the Father...that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth...

How do we measure the love of our Lord?

The price paid.  He gave his all…his very life…  We must remember that Jesus, while being in the very nature God, was man.  He felt the same pain as any man.  He had the same wants, the same dreams, the same hopes for life as we do.  Yet our salvation over-ruled any of those.  His sacrifice was a great sacrifice.

      The attitude with which he paid the price...Both the Psalmist and the writer of Hebrews tells us that he delighted to go to the cross on our behalf, that it was his joy to carry the shame.  Really?

      The liberty with which he paid the price…  Not only did Jesus give his all and gave up his all, and not only did he do so with delight, but he did so, freely.  There was no coercion.  Sitting at the right hand of God, when God asked the question, “Who will go for me?”  He immediately stood, and said, “Here am I send me.”  I know those words are spoken by Isaiah, but I think they are a true picture of our Jesus.  Somewhere I read a quote by John Piper who said, “Love, true love, is deep in proportion to its liberty.”  As such, when Christ gave himself freely, he exemplified the depth of his love.  

      How little we deserved this gift.  It’s so true, we might be willing to give our lives for a good cause, or a good person, but why would we want to freely, willingly, lay down our lives for an enemy.  Why would we die for one who had treated us poorly, who offended us, shunned us, betrayed us, and even wanted to kill us?  Why?  No reason, other than the purity and vastness of love!

      What we receive as a result of the gift.  Oh, my goodness, the benefits of this love.  This could take an entire blog in itself, and should.  Quickly…all heaven is mine ETERNALLY; a new identity is bestowed on me; a life of abundance and freedom; spiritual gifts; a grand purpose; a new kingdom on earth as well as in heaven; joy in spite of my circumstances is possible, and victory over sin and death.  These few just capstone the many blessings of Jesus’ death on our behalf. 

How deep the Father’s love for us…  How vast, yet comprehendible…  AMAZING LOVE, HOW CAN IT BE, THAT YOU MY KING WOULD DIE FOR ME! Oh, if we could only live in this kind of measurement!