Love Is Blind....Really?

The phrase "love is blind" is commonly used to describe someone who is demonstrating the ability to love someone in spite of the objects glaring shortcomings. The premise is that the lover must not see the fault of their beloved or they would never love them the way that they do.

Some might do it in total obliviousness, but others will choose to overlook the faults in order to retain a heartfelt affection for the other. But is love truly blind?

John 1:14 says "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."

It would appear that Divine Love is the demonstration of grace in the midst of a full revelation of the truth! God does not overlook our sin in order to show us favor, He is able to show favor while being conscious of all of our iniquity.

I believe that many of us have chosen the path of "overlooking" the shortcomings of others because it makes it easier to extend grace to them. But is this true grace? Is it grace that flows from the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit? Or is it a counterfeit grace that is birthed out of human strength and ability?

Am I overlooking something in order to be gracious, or am I doing the more difficult act of calling upon the Holy Spirit to produce grace within me by fellowship with Him while remaining fully conscious of the hurt of my heart caused by the actions of another?

Let us not diminish grace to a human characteristic born out of our own goodness and ability. Grace is from God alone; produced by His Spirit through communion with the Son of His love. The Son who became flesh, dwelt among us and was full of grace and truth. Jesus did not minister the grace of the Godhead from afar. He dwelt among us, in the midst of our depravity and brokenness, and with full revelation of our sin He loved us, even unto death.

Oh what a great testimony we would give the world if we were to live with such power in the midst of weak and broken humanity!

What would happen if instead of diminishing someones iniquity by saying "Oh, it's OK. It's no big deal...You're forgiven." we actually acknowledged the magnitude of their offense towards us and then offered them total forgiveness! Of what merit is forgiveness for something that was "no big deal"? The word says that "he who has been forgiven much will love much". Are we not in fact robbing our brothers and sisters of the gift of love when we diminish their offense towards us?

Love for Jesus increases with a greater revelation of our own sin. The revelation that God owes us nothing and that we deserve hell.

Jesus never said to the woman caught in adultery "It's no big deal...you are forgiven!". He acknowledged her guilt before her accusers! "You who is without sin cast the first stone". It was out of that revelation, the truth, that He said to her "Neither do I condemn (pass sentence) upon you. Go and sin no more.".

If love is the greatest of all things, and love is produced in us by being forgiven much, then let us bless one another by living with grace and truth! Grace that has been cultivated by abiding in the presence of Jesus through righteousness. Grace born of the Spirit and not of our flesh.

For grace born out of human ability is cheap grace, and cheap grace will only turn sour in the mouths of the condemned as they stand before the Judge without love in their hearts for Jesus.

True Love is not blind; It searches the hearts and thoughts of all men, and still chose to lay down it's life to pay for our sin. That is Love! Love sees all and conquers all.

Let us love with a love that is full of grace and truth.

Jon