We Can Love Like God Loves

One of my Facebook friends placed a status on his wall about his challenge to express love to people who were a challenge or undeserving to love. He felt it was important to love God first and then to love yourself second. Any other way would be out of order and it would be impossible to truly express love to others. As Christians we are called to rise to a level of spiritual maturity. We no longer live according to our flesh nor should we have the mind set to please the flesh, but we now live according to the spirit and have the mind set of what the spirit desires. The world has an artificial concept of what love is. The world believes love is based on emotions or on our feelings. This is a false sense of love and is only temporary. Agape love; however, is true love. Agape love is not only unconditional, but it is also sacrificial. This type of love is not based on how we feel nor is it given based on whether or not a person is deserving. The truth of the matter is none of us were ever deserving of God’s love. However, God first demonstrated his unconditional love for us by giving His only son, Jesus Christ, as a sacrificial Lamb for all mankind.

In 1 John 4:20, it states:

“Whoever claims to love God yet hates his brother is a liar. For anyone whom does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.

That’s a pretty stringent scripture. However, the word is clear. It is contradictory to claim intimate relationship with God and then hate our fellow man. If we were intimate with God, we would clearly understand that God IS love. Whoever does not love does not know God. However, whoever lives in love, lives in God and God lives in them. In simpler terms, know God and know how to love like God.

This love the bible speaks about, agape love, cannot be given in the flesh, but we must be led by the Spirit of God. This love is understood through a relationship with Jesus Christ. Once we experience closeness with Christ, we begin to see people the way He sees people. We begin to love the way He loves. As a matter of fact, we cannot love without God. It’s impossible. That’s why it’s essential to have relationship with Him.

Jesus would not mandate us to do something we do not have the means or capability to do. Through the Spirit, we are able to express true love to all that we encounter. As Christians, we must submit to the leadership of the Spirit and check our flesh at the door.  Jesus said this, ”A new command I give you: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, so you must also love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Grow in God. Grow in Love. Decrease in Self. Decrease in Hate.

Scripture References: Rom 8:1-17
                                    1 John 4:7-21
                                    John 13:34-35