I occasionally run across the following FB post and ones like it on my FB page.  It is attributed to Marilyn Monroe.  “I’m selfish, impatient and a little insecure. I make mistakes and am out of control and at times hard to handle.  But, if you can’t handle me at my worst then you sure don’t deserve me at my best.”  I generally scroll by such generic posts and don’t give them much thought. 

But today I stopped to think about it.  In the above quote the person seems to expect to be loved despite their faults.  It can become a real quest, seeking love that just isn’t available.  The only One who really loves us the way we want to be loved is God. He is also the only one who asks to be loved in return without the same stipulations.  God doesn’t have to say, “Love me even though I have faults.”  God doesn’t have faults.  His love is perfect.   

I wonder why when God’s love is perfect and we all seem to be seeking perfect love that we avoid God’s love like it’s the plague?  Maybe it’s because perfect love requires real commitment.  When we profess to love someone who is imperfect, it’s easy to not be entirely committed, after all it’s hard to love the imperfections.  But when faced with perfect love, we run. We run because perfect love requires us to give up all that is familiar and not only receive the perfect love of God, but to pour it forth into the imperfect, undeserving souls of others.  And that is hard.

‘And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways, to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the LORD’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?’ Deuteronomy 10:12-13

Last week Colby had a short break from school.  His room mates family invited him and five others to go with them to Florida.  The family planned a boat ride to see the alligators in the Keys, time at the beach, and even an afternoon of water jet packing.

Colby told me that while they were playing in the ocean he saw barracuda and a shark.  Several of his friends brains had apparently been over worked while at school and were taking their own little vacations because they recklessly chased the shark through the water.  They gave up chasing the shark when they realized they didn’t want the shark to think they were playing a game of tag and that he was “it”.  Being Colby’s mom I was concerned about his safety while in the ocean with a family of barracuda and a shark!  But, he assured me that he kept his distance and that the other kids were closer than he was to any danger.

But, how close is too close?  How close can I get to sin before it turns around and bites me?  Sin seems to have a way of constantly swirling around us, and there isn’t much we can do about that.  But, I can choose whether or not I will chase it while disregarding the possibility that it may turn around and bite me.

“So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.”  2 Timothy 2:22

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”  James 4:7