The true mark of a Christian lifestyle is love. Jesus wanted us to be known by the love we have for one another! We are called to a life of loving those He loves. It sounds like it's simple and easy, but it isn't. The problem is that our definition of love is conditional. We think that we will simply love those that love us back and only when they've earned it. If someone betrays us, they lose our love. Sorry to break it to you, but that isn't how Jesus views it.
We are not only told to love others, but love them like He loves them. That's pretty incredible. 1 Corinthians 13 and other places in the Bible give us the outline of what a Jesus love truly looks like. There are a few things to note. Jesus' love is sacrificial, unconditional, and unrelenting. We go above and beyond to love people when we see them through His eyes. We love those who hate us, we love those who have betrayed us, when they slap one cheek we turn and offer them the other. This is the love of Jesus Christ.
Love isn't always a mushy gushy love fest between those you care about-- it's a burden of caring so much more about someone else's well-being than yours. And even when they don't care at all about yours. A love like this can be painful, but it is a lifestyle that we are called to and it is what leads others to want to know a God who can take them as they are and love them anyway.
I challenge you to a love much deeper than the world's love. Love those who hate you, who betray you, who speak ill of you, who hurt you, etc. Continue to show Jesus' unrelenting, unconditional love to those He puts in your path. It may not always be easy, but it is what brings us all closer to the One True God.
1 John 4:19 We love because he first loved us. (ESV)
John 13:35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another (NIV)
Matthew 5:38-48 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." (NIV)
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. (ESV)
John 15:9-17 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other." (ESV)
We are not only told to love others, but love them like He loves them. That's pretty incredible. 1 Corinthians 13 and other places in the Bible give us the outline of what a Jesus love truly looks like. There are a few things to note. Jesus' love is sacrificial, unconditional, and unrelenting. We go above and beyond to love people when we see them through His eyes. We love those who hate us, we love those who have betrayed us, when they slap one cheek we turn and offer them the other. This is the love of Jesus Christ.
Love isn't always a mushy gushy love fest between those you care about-- it's a burden of caring so much more about someone else's well-being than yours. And even when they don't care at all about yours. A love like this can be painful, but it is a lifestyle that we are called to and it is what leads others to want to know a God who can take them as they are and love them anyway.
I challenge you to a love much deeper than the world's love. Love those who hate you, who betray you, who speak ill of you, who hurt you, etc. Continue to show Jesus' unrelenting, unconditional love to those He puts in your path. It may not always be easy, but it is what brings us all closer to the One True God.
1 John 4:19 We love because he first loved us. (ESV)
John 13:35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another (NIV)
Matthew 5:38-48 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." (NIV)
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. (ESV)
John 15:9-17 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other." (ESV)
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