"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 13:34-35
We're told that we can show the world that we are Jesus' disciples by our love for each other. But the danger of this is that we apply the worldly, Hollywoody version of love to this verse and miss the point completely. The world tells us that love is a feeling that comes and goes as our mood changes. However, the bible shows us that love is a commitment that goes further than how we feel.
The first clue as to how we should love each other is in the second sentence. Jesus tells us that we should love on another 'as I (Jesus) have loved you'. Think about that for a second. That's some pretty heavy stuff right there! In the garden of Gethsemane Jesus prayed, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” (Matt 26:39) Jesus' feeling was that he wanted God to release him from having to go to the cross, but his commitment was such that he still went through with the single greatest act of love in history. He died a sinner's death for us so that we wouldn't have to face the ultimate consequence of our sin, death and separation from God. But how do we do anything like this for each other?! Well, the bible also says this...
'Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.'
We're told that we can show the world that we are Jesus' disciples by our love for each other. But the danger of this is that we apply the worldly, Hollywoody version of love to this verse and miss the point completely. The world tells us that love is a feeling that comes and goes as our mood changes. However, the bible shows us that love is a commitment that goes further than how we feel.
The first clue as to how we should love each other is in the second sentence. Jesus tells us that we should love on another 'as I (Jesus) have loved you'. Think about that for a second. That's some pretty heavy stuff right there! In the garden of Gethsemane Jesus prayed, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” (Matt 26:39) Jesus' feeling was that he wanted God to release him from having to go to the cross, but his commitment was such that he still went through with the single greatest act of love in history. He died a sinner's death for us so that we wouldn't have to face the ultimate consequence of our sin, death and separation from God. But how do we do anything like this for each other?! Well, the bible also says this...
'Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.'
John 15:13
That is a real challenge of commitment rather than feeling. I'm sure we can all think of situations where it's just easier not to love our friends and lay down our lives for them. But we ought to think differently. Give our lives for them. Let them make our lives awkward.
The second aspect of love is to look at what love really is. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 tells us that without love, everything we do is empty and pointless. Then it goes on to list what love is.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Can we love each other with this kind of love and commitment? I pray that this valentines day (or friends day, I know!) God will help us not just to know it or even say it, but to live it. Then people really will know that we belong to Him.
That is a real challenge of commitment rather than feeling. I'm sure we can all think of situations where it's just easier not to love our friends and lay down our lives for them. But we ought to think differently. Give our lives for them. Let them make our lives awkward.
The second aspect of love is to look at what love really is. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 tells us that without love, everything we do is empty and pointless. Then it goes on to list what love is.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Can we love each other with this kind of love and commitment? I pray that this valentines day (or friends day, I know!) God will help us not just to know it or even say it, but to live it. Then people really will know that we belong to Him.
Posts
its funny that i wrote about the same thing that you. and then i found your blog :P
ReplyDeleteI read it (as well as I could). Spooky eh?
ReplyDelete