A new command I [Jesus] give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. - John 13:34-35
This past Sunday the teacher in the Encouragers class we attend asked a question about love. If someone you didn't know approached you and they had piercings all over their face, ears, lips and inside their mouth - as well as sporting body tattoos, would you have a hard time loving them. That question got me to thinking about what love meant. The New testament is replete with admonitions to love others. But I think that all too often we forget that the Bible is a spiritual book. We are never encouraged to do anything biblically without the presence and power of the Spirit of God.
All too often we think of love as an emotion that we conjure up in our hearts that God says we are then express to the world. Natural love has no spiritual power. It is conditional and selfish meaning its expression requires that a benefit be gained by the one expressing it. It is not selfless.
Let's consider the root of the love that Jesus was referring to. God created mankind and God loved His creation. But mankind turned away from him and sought its own way. But God's love was undeterred. In fact ...
God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. - John 3:16
God was willing to sacrifice His firstborn to restore mankind. We are able to love the way God loves only because ...
He first loved us. - 1 John 4:19
Jesus said that the two greatest commandments were
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind [and strength]. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. - Matthew 22:38-39
Jesus was not referring to the natural love conjured by man apart from God, but spiritual - unconditional love - love that comes from God and is then expressed back to God and to others. But love like that can only happen by those who have been born again by the Spirit. Jesus went on to say -
Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. - John 15:13
The love that Jesus showed us was sacrificial. Where we place others before ourselves - not requiring that we derive some benefit from our expression love to others - a natural man's Quid Pro Quo kind of love. We love because God first loved us! We can love others the same way because of the love we have for the Father. The Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Rome - Romans 12 [I am certain that you know Paul did not label the sentences he wrote]
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. - Romans 12:1-2
He also wrote to the church in Corinth
If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, 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. Love never fails. ... And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. - 1 Corinthians 13:2-8,13
The love Paul wrote about was AGAPE - spiritual love - a capacity given to those who have been born again by the Spirit. So let's go back to our pierced and tattooed friend. How can I love him? - In the same way that God loves me - and am able because God loves me. Remember
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. - Romans 5:8
Jesus, when he confronted those who judged others by what they saw, said
Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean. - Matthew 23:26
And Jesus said we are to love others in the same way the He loved us. We are not asked to condone sin - but we are commanded to love others in spite of their sin and point them to Jesus. Our inclination is to profile people. But that person just might be a believer or a seeker or perhaps he is lost like most of the rest of the world. Most of whom don't have piercings and don't have tattoos, but they are people are bound for an eternity in hell nonetheless. Does that concern you? If you love God and love others it should.
So be careful that you are not hasty to jump to conclusions or miss an opportunity to show someone Jesus.
"The love of God is greater far Than tongue or pen can ever tell; It goes beyond the highest star, And reaches to the lowest hell; The guilty pair, bowed down with care, God gave His Son to win; His erring child He reconciled, And pardoned from his sin.
Could we with ink the ocean fill, And were the skies of parchment made, Were every stalk on earth a quill, And every man a scribe by trade; To write the love of God above Would drain the ocean dry; Nor could the scroll contain the whole, Though stretched from sky to sky.
Refrain:
Oh, love of God, how rich and pure! How measureless and strong! It shall forevermore endure— The saints’ and angels’ song." - The Love Of God, Frederick M. Lehman - Public Domain
Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.
By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone
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