Incline

Do you remember riding an incline to the top?  I remember, and it was a bit scary!  Burt Bacharach wrote it and Jackie DeShannon sang it -- "What the world needs now is love, sweet love."  You may be surprised to learn this wasn't news even in 1965!  Jesus said, "As the Father hath loved Me, so have I loved you; continue ye in My love." (John 15:9).  Living apart from Christ, love will always be on the decline in our lives.  In the decline, there is no fullness of joy as Jesus promised: "that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full." (John 15:11). Christ continues this discourse on love – "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." (V.13).  Many times we relate this verse exclusively to how Jesus laid down His life for us - and thankful we are - but there's much opportunity for us each day to lay aside ourselves for Jesus' sake and for others.  What will we do for the sake of such genuine real love?  The breathtaking views from the top of Israel's Masada would have just been pictures-on-a-page except I took the incline!  Know this, true love as Jesus described comes only when we bend (incline) toward the Author of the Highest Love.  Will you incline to draw near to Him?​