“If our freedom, courage, and behavior makes you wonder if we are crazy, it’s to bring glory to God. But if this is what real sanity looks like, it’s for your benefit. Crazy or sane—either way, it’s the love of the Lord Jesus Christ that is compelling and controlling us, melting and molding us.” (pp 2 Cor.5:13)
Lord Jesus, what a great image—being “certifiably crazy” through the wonder, influence, and transforming power of your love. Not merely warmed, grateful, or deeply inspired—but seized and smitten, undone then up and laughing, centered and sent forth into a life of loving as you love us. Grant it. Supersize it. Multiply it.
What might this kind of “crazy” look like? Well for starters, it would look like you, Jesus. To say we are being controlled by your love is another way of affirming that “we are no longer our own; we are yours—’lock, stock, and barrel,’; head, heart, and hands; past, present, and future.” For we have been bought with a price”—the unparalleled currency of your life, death, and resurrection” (pp 1Cor.6:19-20). By your Holy Spirit, please make this more real and precious to us than EVER. This will free us to live out our calling of doing all things in your name and for your glory.
Indeed, make us that “crazy” Jesus. In our cancel culture, free us to live as reconcilers. In an ugly season in which our world is increasingly becoming “us versus them,” may we demonstrate what Jesus for ALL of us looks like. While many are becoming accustomed to quickly demonizing and labeling anyone who disagrees with them, may we become 100 times more accustomed to asking, “What does faith expressing itself in love look like in this situation?” (Gal.5:6). For according to you, Jesus, that’s all that really counts. So Very Amen.
