Love Out Loud

by Pastor Robbie Ashlock

“For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish.  And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?”                         -Esther 4:14

Love is not supposed to be silent or withheld from others.  It is to be heard and felt by those around us.  Love withheld isn’t really love at all but love freely given will change the world.  Christ was the greatest example of love lived out loud.  His love for you and me changed eternity.  

As we draw closer to Easter, let’s remind ourselves of that love. Because of the great love of Jesus Christ, that has been given to us, we have been set free from sin and shame. Now, we are called to live out that love.  This is a life where the love of the Father pours into each of us on a daily basis.  Then, that same love flows forth from our hearts into the hearts and lives of those around us.  It can’t be contained.

Unfortunately, many of us are afraid to love others the way that Jesus first loved us.  His love is unconditional. His love is real and honest, but His love also had a cost, and our love will as well.  True love always has a cost.  True love extends beyond itself and allows itself to be vulnerable to others.  For many of us, that is something we are unwilling to do.  

When we weigh the cost of loving others, it might cost us more than we are willing to give.  We may trust our hearts to God, but to give them freely away to others is a stretch we aren’t willing to make.  So, we hold back on loving everyone that we come in contact with.  Our love is reserved for a select few.  

If our love for God is to cost us everything, then what should our love for others cost us?  Shouldn’t it be the same if we are to be the hands and feet of God?  We have been commanded to go into all the world sharing the Good News of Christ with everyone we meet.  And if that Good News cost Jesus His life, then we too should be willing to give ours.

In the story of Esther, we see a young girl who is thrust into a powerful position.  Once an orphan exiled in a foreign land, she has now become the queen of the most powerful nation of its time.  A vicious man named Haman is out to eradicate the Jews because of a personal vendetta passed down from generation to generation.  Her cousin Mordecai comes to her with a request for her to go to the King and save the Jews from certain death.  She wants to do what is right.  She wants to save her people, but it could cost her everything, even her life.  What would you do in this situation?  

You have to count the cost.  Mordecai does this for Esther in chapter 4 verse 14, “For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish.  And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?”  He tells her, “If you stay quiet then God will save the Jews, but you and your family will perish.  But if you take the stand that I believe God is calling you to take, then all can be saved.”  Many times, it will cost us more when we do nothing.  Count the cost.  

You have been given a place of power.  God has specifically placed you where you are for His glory, but you have a choice to make.  Will you live and love for Him?  What will happen to your relationships if you refuse to love out loud?  Who are you failing by not giving your all for the glory of God?  What will happen in your own home if you don’t teach your family to love unconditionally?  What would we miss out on as a church if we refused to love out loud?  

God will still reach others for His glory, but He won’t be able to use us.  What do you want to be the legacy of your life: the one who loved or one who never reached beyond his or herself?  Andy Stanley asked this question, “At the end of your life what do you want people to line up and thank you for?  What do you want to be your legacy?”  For me I want to LOVE OUT LOUD.  I want others to know and feel the love of the Lord in every aspect of my life.

Keep the Son in your eyes, Robbie