"The Proof"

As a pastor's wife, one of my most challenging areas of service is the area of loving those who are disloyal.  You know, those persons who love you and respect you, as long as you don't cross them, or you don't have to tell them the truth.  Or the ones that you thought had it "all together," but really, they didn't.  Even those who taught the word with boldness and yet, they find it easy to disregard God's word so that they can feel justified in what they are doing! 
I have once again been reminded that true love is an action and not a feeling.  Jesus took our griefs and our sorrows upon Himself.  He took our sins and our failings, our self-righteousness and hate; and He bore those horrible things on His body as He died on a tree....for me.  Jesus, I'm sure, did not feel like going to the cross; in fact, He prayed that the Father would "Take this cup from Me......."  Feelings don't have much to do with true love.  Feelings are a part of love and feelings can come as we love, but true love gives despite feelings!  True love says, "Not My will, but Yours be done."  Jesus' death was the proof of His love for me!!  It was by this very action that I now live this "abundant life."
God has given to me life, abundant life.  How I choose to spend the minutes, hours, and days of this life, prove/show my love for the Farther; but in the living, I must die.