bleeding.

Being beaten with a cat-o-nine tails makes one bleed. Having a crown of spikes shoved into one's head makes one bleed. Being stabbed in the side with a spear makes one bleed. But when one says, "I'm bleeding love" they are not in need of medical attention. They are in pain. Heart pain. Like they've loved someone for so long, get nothing in return, and yet still continue to love them. It's unconditional love. It's agape. It's hard and painful. And it's how God loves us.

How often have we turned from our Creator for selfishness, pride, or fear? How often have we walk away from those commitments we've made with Him to gain satisfaction here on earth. Jesus says that those who do things for selfish gain "have received their reward in full."

The cross is a beautiful picture of Christ's bleeding love for us. But, the fleshly pain He endured on the cross is only a part of the pain that He feels for us when we turn away. Because He is God, and God is love, He has no choice but to always love us, even when we turn away. Does that make you want to shout about the joy of your salvation at the top of your lungs? That God, who knit us together in our mother's womb, will love us no matter how far our selfish and scared feet run away from Him? If it doesn't, then it's time to reevaluate ourselves.

So, then, if Christ loves us so much that He bleeds when we tear away from Him, then we, as examples of God, should love each other regardless of the consequences, even if it means bleeding.

"Jesus replied, 'You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.' This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important. 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" Matthew 22:37-39

Bleeding means pain. Pain and love go together. You either love and get hurt (because we live in a broken world) or your heart freezes over and you feel nothing. As Christians created in the likeness of Jesus, we're called to love. And bleed. Because that's exactly what Jesus did for us.