Evidence of Love

     The true disciple sees difficult circumstances as the evidence of God's love for him. God is, on occasion, trying to straighten him out before the consequences get worse. God is, much more often, giving him a vote of confidence, that his faith in God's character will be stronger than the trial. Whatever happens, he knows that when it's all over, he'll be more like Jesus than he used to be. And that alone makes it all worthwhile. Fire always purifies.
     The true disciple never demands that someone love him back.  "Love" is not a method to control others.  "Love" is not in any way related to "guilt."  He knows that love is a choice freely made and has nothing to do with the response of the one loved.  It is not that he doesn't want to be loved, that he would "mind" being loved, he just knows that it must be freely given or it's not really love at all.  If someone is going to love him because he deserves it, he knows they won't love him very long.