Love asks for a total disarmament. – Henri Nouwen

Our God always goes first. He commands us to love our enemies (Matt 5:44). And He has first loved us (1 Jn 4:19) – once enemies now heirs (Rom 5:10).

Christ has disarmed himself of glory, and in so doing God has disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in the open arms of Christ (Phil 2:7, Col 2:15).

Open arms are a symbol of disarmament.

And this is the way Christ lived and died.

Open arms to receive from His Father (Lk 22:42).

Open arms to suffer and die at the hands of those He came to save (Lk 19:10).

Like all things in this upside down kingdom, open-armed enemy love feels like death but is actually life.

Life in Christ is first death to self.

It carries a cross.

It seeks the disarmament of my agenda for the good of the other, and the glory of God.

But we are never left to walk alone, Christ has gone first.

God, thank You, that You always going first. Thank You that You loved us while we were Your enemies. Give us the mind of Christ. Embolden us with His obedience. Enable us to love our enemies with open arms. In Christ’s name, amen.

Learning to love,