Freely Give (Um, I Beg Your Pardon?)

Recently I heard someone quote or I read somewhere the words of Jesus from Matthew 10:8 "freely you have received, freely give"  These words are not new to me but I believe that this recent reminder  is right on time because the words have been ringing in my ears and bouncing through my brain since I heard them. 

There is no great theological mystery to this command of Jesus;  but I've been wondering why this is haunting me.  Since I love the dictionary, I decided to once again enlist the help of my friends at Merriam Webster.  They define freely as without restraint or reservation, without hindrance, or not strictly following a model, convention, or rule. 

Oh, my great love, the dictionary, has once again stopped me in my tracks.  I want to say, "Uh, Jesus, I beg Your pardon?  By freely, do you mean really freely or freely so that I'm not uncomfortable or don't have to give anything up that I might really like?" 

Sometimes I have to hear Jesus speak and sometimes I simply know the answer because of the sense that He has gifted me with.  In this case, the latter applies.  Freely means freely.  No questions.  No discussions. 

I am to love without restraint or reservation because I have been loved this way.  I need to love without hindrance because I have been loved this way.  Sometimes I may even have to do something a little crazy to show love; I may have to not strictly follow a model, convention, or rule. I am to love regardless of how I feel, if I want to, or if I think someone deserves my love. 

I love because He first loved me as He reminds me in 1 John 4:9:   God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him.  So the next time He reminds to love and I give Him feedback, I won't be surprised is He says to me, "Uh, I beg your pardon?"