The options were not so great. Violence and oppression forced this young man to flee his homeland. Given his age and agility, it made sense for him to flee without looking back. However, this young man chose to think outside the box. He chose courageous love.
You see, his 65-year-old mom and 85-year-old dad could barely walk and would not survive the violence. Rather than leave them behind, he chose to carry them in two baskets slung over his shoulders. With both parents secure on his shoulders, he walked barefoot for more than seven days from his village in Myanmar to cross the Bangladesh border. Read the full story here.
A Listening Heart
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Love motivated this young man to think outside the box and do whatever was necessary to bring his parents to safety. Love motivates us to look beyond ourselves and show care and compassion for others.
How do I love and care for others well?
How do you love and care for others well?
Love is More Than Words. It’s Courageous Action.
A similar story of bold and courageous love is recorded in Luke 5:18-25. There was a paralytic man who was in need of healing. One day, his friends decided to take the paralytic man to meet Jesus. The friends carried the man on a bed, but as they approached Jesus, there was a huge crowd that prevented them from bringing the man close to Jesus.
Like the young man from Myanmar, the paralytic man’s friends decided to be bold and creative. Their great love for him compelled them to think outside the box and be courageous.
They decided to carry the man to the rooftop and let him down into the middle of the crowd in front of Jesus. They believed that Jesus was the answer to their friend’s paralysis and could heal him.
Upon seeing the faith of the friends, Jesus said to the paralytic, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.” After some squabbles with the Pharisees, Jesus said to the man, get up, pick up your stretcher, and go home. Immediately, the man got up and went home, glorifying God.
The paralytic man received healing because his friends loved him well and believed Jesus could heal him. Their intercession for him was an act of courageous love.
How well do you and I love others? To what extent are we willing to go to bring them to Jesus?
Before you resign and throw your hands in the air, hear me out. Maybe you and I cannot physically carry others to Jesus through the door like the paralytic man. Are we willing to consider alternatives, like going up on the roof? Or interceding for them in prayer or doing some kind deeds to show them God’s love?
Courageous love compels us to think outside of the box. One of the ways we can love others courageously is by interceding on their behalf through prayer. Intercessory prayer is like going up on the rooftop and bringing others directly in front of Jesus through prayer. An intercessory prayer is an act of love, compassion, and faith. It is bringing others to the Lord spiritually.
Intercessory prayer shows care as we identify with people and their need for salvation. We show them God’s love by embracing them– their joys, fears, successes, and failures. We bring them to Jesus just like the friends of the paralytic man.
How have you seen love in action? Who needs your courageous love today?
A Courageous Prayer for Friends and Loved Ones
O Lord, send out Your light and Your truth. Let them lead my loved ones closer to you.
Grant me the courage to show them Your love and bring them boldly through intercessory prayer to Your holy hill and to Your dwelling place. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
Prayer based on Psalm 43:3
Photo Courtesy of Asia Pacific
2 thoughts on “Love is More than Words: A Call to Courageous Love”
A “play brother” of mine needs God. He thinks he is successful in life because of himself. We have been praying for him and his family to PLEASE come to the Lord for years. I constantly let him know how the Lord uses him when he helps others. His father died recently, and I am hoping that will bring him around. I’m going to send this to him. He may or may not read it, but my hope is that he will hurry up and give God the glory.
Thank you for this, Sister! You are always on time—through Him, of course! x)
Love you! *big hugs*
Ursula, I will join you in praying for this brother. Glad you were encouraged. Blessings sis!