I Belong to You!

I was riding along with a co-worker to a jobsite listening to the radio the other morning.  A couple of songs were played in a row which had surprisingly similar lyrics.  First there was "You Belong With Me" by Taylor Swift, a song about a girl who likes a boy who does not share her feelings of desire.  "Been here all along, so why can't you see?  You belong with me."  Immediately following that song Boyz II Men's "End of the Road" played, a song similar in many ways:  "Although we've come to the end of the road still I can't let go, it's unnatural, you belong to me, I belong to you."  After hearing these songs in succession, my mind drifted to a song I actually used to own on vinyl by the Police, "Every Breath You Take."  This creepy-stalker-song is a twisted view of romance:  "Every step you take, I'll be watching you - every single day and every word you say, every game you play, every night you stay, I'll be watching you.  Oh can't you see you belong to me?"

Love in this world is patently impure, completely opposite than the love which springs from God.  Instead of saying "You belong to me!" true love says "I belong to you:  have all of me."  That's what Jesus did when He allowed Himself to become a sacrifice for the sins of the world.  He did not act like an estranged lover who sought to "get back" at the one who rejected him.  Instead Jesus gave Himself freely, actively showing His love even to those who smote, scourged, and sentenced Him.  Jesus faced death in silence, but His love speaks volumes to this day.  He did not scream as a fierce tyrant who was double-crossed by traitors, though He had every right to do so.  God is our Creator, and as His creation we answer to His justice.  But by His grace if we respond to His love in repentance and faith, the justice poured out upon Christ can be substituted for the justice we deserve for our sin.  And wonder of wonders, Christ's virtue and righteousness is added to our account when we are justified and born again by the Holy Spirit.

What kind of love do we show to others:  the selfish-indignant "You belong to me!" false love of this world or the "I belong to you" kind of love modeled by Jesus Christ?  To give it you must have received of it, and there is only one source:  Jesus!  Against such love there is no law.