(The ideas in "Love Beyond Logic" are thought provoking
deserving the consideration of every Christian. The author is unknown) Editor, July 6, 1997)
LOVE BEYOND LOGIC
In our relationships with others,
often what passes for love is little more than a neat business transaction.
People are kind to us, so we repay them with equal consideration. When they
treat us unjustly, our negative response is really what they asked for.
Everything is so balanced, so fair so logical with this eye-for-an-eye and
tooth-for-a-tooth kind of justice. But Christian love never settles for only
what's reasonable. It insists on giving mercy as well as justice. It breaks the
chain of logical reactions.
General Robert E. Lee was asked
what he thought of a fellow officer in the Confederate Army who had made some
derogatory remarks about him. Lee rated him as being very satisfactory. The
person who asked the question seemed perplexed. "General," he said,
"I guess you don't know what he's been saying about you." "I
know," answered Lee, "But I was asked my opinion of him, not his
opinion of me!"
How grateful we can be that God
doesn't treat us the way we treat Him! His provision and care, His mercy and
grace are not parceled out only when we feel kindly toward Him. Think of those
periods of spiritual neglect--- or even worse, that rebellion and anger we've
expressed toward Him. But He did not respond in kind. His love was constant. It
was never contingent upon our opinion of Him.
When the security of such a
relationship begins to grip our heart, we will want to replace the principle of
an eye-for-an-eye with a depth and quality of love that goes beyond
logic.
Love has reasons which reason
fails to recognize.
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