Fair Trade? Balanced Love?

S

(Romans 8:32) He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously [freely] give us all things?

O

Here, God reveals the perfection of His goodness. By deciding to "not spare," we see the wealth behind His giving: "I will not offer anything that cost me nothing" (1 Chronicles 21:24). From the double possessive ("His own son"), we see the deep love bond between Father and Son: like Isaac being bound by cords of love (as demonstrated by His submission, obedience, and trust), his rope cords were redundant (Genesis 22:9). From the double negative followed by the absolute positive ("did not spare" and "gave Him up"), we begin to see the very personal price the Trinity paid for this gift. Finally, from the simple words "for us all" we barely begin to glimpse the Father's and Son's unselfishness, their distinct but identical desires to risk all things so someone might accept their grace.

A (Personal)

I find myself trying to project my selfishness onto God. How foolish of me to protect my distrust of His love. That's why the Holy Spirit presses me to contrast these two divine gifts: on one side of the scale is Jesus, my Savior, who freely chose to die for me (Romans 5:8) and whom the Father freely gave up for me. On the other side is "all things." My natural greed starts salivating over the prospects of what "all things" might include on this side of the scale. However, "all things" is eternally secondary to Christ. It's whatever I need in order for me to gain in my relationship with Him. It includes tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger, swords, death, demons, or literally anything else (Romans 8:35-39) ... and it's worth the price! It's my unfair gain.

A (Psychological)

Differentiation is that process by which people maintain their separate identities while simultaneously remaining connected in relationship, belonging, and unity. It's a description of the relationship within the Godhead, and from that we see what healthy human relationships look like. Jack and Judith Balswick describe this component of strong, healthy families: each member of the family is differentiated. Together, they have a degree of mutuality and involvement that is supportive but not intrusive. In contrast, disengaged families are incohesive and rarely engage or contribute meaningfully to each other's lives. The opposite dysfunction (again, in contrast to the Trinity) is enmeshment where the lives of family members are hopelessly entwined, with no member having a separate identity apart from the family. From the bond within the Trinity, we find a major description of healthy love: it is empowerment, it is to serve and be served, and it is to give selflessly for the fulfillment of the other without degrading or diminishing one's own power or identity. What the world doesn't understand, but what the Holy Spirit reveals, is that such selflessness, such love, is infinitely powerful yet positive ... it's pure goodness. That is the nature of God's love.

P

Savior, my goal is to know You--to know Your love that keeps me bound to You, to know Your peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7), and to know the power of Your resurrection even though that knowledge might come through suffering as much as it comes through blessing (Philippians 3:8-11). Thank You that, as my Lord, You won't allow anything to separate me from Your love (Romans 8:39). I don't understand what You get from this, but I'm very grateful!