The Language Of Love

 

"Now Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath.
And there was a woman there who for eighteen years had had an infirmity
cause by a spirit, a demon of sickness.  She was bent completely forward
and utterly unable to straighten herself up or look forward.

And when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and said to her,
"Woman, you are released from your infirmity!"

Then He laid His hands on her, and instantly she was made straight,
and she recognized and thanked and praised God.

But the leader of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed 
on the Sabbath, said to the crowd, "There are six days on which work ought
to be done; so come on those days and be cured, and not on the Sabbath day."

But the Lord replied to him, saying, "You hypocrites! Does not each of you
on the Sabbath loose his ox or his donkey from the stall and lead it out to water it?
And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound
for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath Day?'

Even as He said this, all His opponents were put to shame, and all the
people were rejoicing over all the glorious things that we being done by Him."
(Luke 13:10-17)

Jesus Heals A Woman On The Sabbath

Painting courtesy/Saatchi Art

Jesus understood us.  Yes, He did! You can tell by His language.

It was the language of love. 

Paul says that love has good manners.
"(Love) is not conceited, arrogant and inflated with pride;
it is not rude, unmannerly, and does not act unbecomingly.
God's love in us does not insist on its own rights or its
own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy
or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it,
it pays no attention to a suffered wrong."
(1 Corinthians 13:5)

and if you care to read the way the Lord addressed the women
He met, you can actually hear love talking.  He said, "daughter"
"little girl" and even "daughter of Abraham" as in this passage.
( Luke 13:16).

What courtesy and comfort, for the women in Jesus' day
were treated like dirt. 

When the priggish Pharisees dragged a woman in front of
 Him who was "caught in adultery" Jesus saved her from 
possible stoning and then dealt firmly with her.

"When Jesus raised Himself up, He said to her, "Woman, where
are your accusers?  Has no man condemned you?

She answered, "No one, Lord!"

And Jesus said, "I do not condemn you either. Go your way
and from now on sin no more."
(John 8:10-11)

He was not rude or rough, but polite while firm.

It is awfully important how you talk to people. 

Jesus always seem to say the right thing the right way!

When I was a young youth worker I was given a lot of
responsibility suddenly. It went to my head. 

Being a strong character, it was not long before I was busy
bossing everyone about.  "Jill, my fellow worker sweetly 
 said to me one day,  I would like to be asked-not told."

I needed that!

Jesus didn't boss women around.  He understood us;
 He knew we like to be asked, not told.

He used the language of love, and so must we if we
would follow in His steps and if we would see anything
accomplished.  Let's try a few good manners.
It's amazing how many people will respond.

Try saying, "Please" and "Thank You"
 and "Do you mind?"

-this is the language of love.

"The Language of Love"
A devotional by
Jill Briscoe
British American
author, editor, and speaker