“These things I command you, that ye love one another” John 15:17. Among the great disciplines that characterized the life of Jesus was His perpetual determination to practice genuine love toward those who crossed His pathway.“Love one another, even as I have loved you”. We need to learn that Christian love is not instinctive. It is not emotional. It is not a mere feeling. Nor is Christian love automatic. Christian love is an activity in which we are called upon to participate. Christian love is a lesson to be learned, and Jesus is the teacher:
- Christian love is a habit to be practiced
- Christian love is a commandment to be obeyed
- Christian love is principle to be followed
Jesus loved His Apostles, and He wants us to love in the same manner:
- Jesus loved His disciples and accepted them as they were
- Jesus loved His disciples and affirmed them positively
- Jesus loved His disciples helpfully
- Jesus loved His disciples tenderly and kindly and yet firmly
- Jesus loved His disciples and forgave them fully
- Jesus loved his disciples sacrificially
Christian love is more than emotion or a feeling. Christian love is an activity that follows a decision of commitment. Let us look into the face of every person and see him or her as one for whom Jesus Christ died. Let us look into the face of everyone and see one who needs the love that we can give because of the indwelling Christ. Let us look into the mirror and see for ourselves one for whom Jesus Christ died on the cross.
As we seek to love God supremely, let us decide to love ourselves properly and appropriately and perhaps we will find it easier to be obedient to the commandment of our Lord when He said, “Love one another, even as I have loved you”. By so doing, we will find ourselves continually wearing the badge that indicates that we are true disciples of Jesus Christ.
Let us love like Jesus and treat one another like Jesus – Because “People Matter”.
Much Love,
Because He Is – I Am
Presider
