To Love Like Jesus
"Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and His love is made complete in us (1 John 4:7-12)."
God doesn't just love, He is love. Whoever is in Him will have this same love for others. It is an agape love~an act of the will and involves faithfulness and commitment. It is a love that perseveres even when you are treated wrongly. It is a love that continues to love regardless of if another person loves you. Agape love is not an emotional or sexual love, it is a selfless love that is characterized by God Himself. Everything He does, He does in love and for our good, not because we deserve it, but because of His very nature. That, my friend, is how we are to love others, putting their welfare above our own. It is shown not just in what we say, but in what we do.
There are many that say they love God, but if they hate their brother, they are a liar (1 John 5:20). Agape love does not expect anything in return. Jesus loves you when you are in His word and He loves you when you yell at a person for cutting you off on the highway or respond harshly to someone. He loves you when you don't feel like going to church on Sunday morning and He loves you when you are depressed. He loves you when you are singing for His glory and He loves you are at your lowest point. The love of Christ is not based on conditions. His love for you does not change based on what you do or don't do.
Jesus is our perfect example and we are to follow Him. This means often times, you have to lay aside your pride, lay aside your selfishness and hurt feelings, and simply love because of who you are in Christ. None of us are perfect. We are all sinners and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). Instead of looking at someone through your own eyes, look at them through the eyes of Jesus.
Remember the pit that Jesus brought you from. At one time, you and I were enemies of the cross. But God so rich in grace, mercy and love, called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. This was not based on anything that we did, but based solely on what Christ did for us. Bottom line: we all deserve hell. Like Paul said in Timothy, "Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners-of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display His unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on Him and receive eternal life (1 Timothy 1:15-16)." Praise be to God, that He does not leave us to die in our sin. He is so patient, and so merciful not wanting anyone to perish, but all to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). He opens blind eyes. He sets captives free. He gives life~forever. When you get a glimpse of the Father, when you realize what Christ has done for you, you cannot help but tell others. It is that same love that drew you to the Father, that now lives inside of you by the Holy Spirit to proclaim the good news of the gospel to the world.
"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another (John 13:34)."
God doesn't just love, He is love. Whoever is in Him will have this same love for others. It is an agape love~an act of the will and involves faithfulness and commitment. It is a love that perseveres even when you are treated wrongly. It is a love that continues to love regardless of if another person loves you. Agape love is not an emotional or sexual love, it is a selfless love that is characterized by God Himself. Everything He does, He does in love and for our good, not because we deserve it, but because of His very nature. That, my friend, is how we are to love others, putting their welfare above our own. It is shown not just in what we say, but in what we do.
There are many that say they love God, but if they hate their brother, they are a liar (1 John 5:20). Agape love does not expect anything in return. Jesus loves you when you are in His word and He loves you when you yell at a person for cutting you off on the highway or respond harshly to someone. He loves you when you don't feel like going to church on Sunday morning and He loves you when you are depressed. He loves you when you are singing for His glory and He loves you are at your lowest point. The love of Christ is not based on conditions. His love for you does not change based on what you do or don't do.
Jesus is our perfect example and we are to follow Him. This means often times, you have to lay aside your pride, lay aside your selfishness and hurt feelings, and simply love because of who you are in Christ. None of us are perfect. We are all sinners and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). Instead of looking at someone through your own eyes, look at them through the eyes of Jesus.
Remember the pit that Jesus brought you from. At one time, you and I were enemies of the cross. But God so rich in grace, mercy and love, called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. This was not based on anything that we did, but based solely on what Christ did for us. Bottom line: we all deserve hell. Like Paul said in Timothy, "Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners-of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display His unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on Him and receive eternal life (1 Timothy 1:15-16)." Praise be to God, that He does not leave us to die in our sin. He is so patient, and so merciful not wanting anyone to perish, but all to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). He opens blind eyes. He sets captives free. He gives life~forever. When you get a glimpse of the Father, when you realize what Christ has done for you, you cannot help but tell others. It is that same love that drew you to the Father, that now lives inside of you by the Holy Spirit to proclaim the good news of the gospel to the world.
"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another (John 13:34)."
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