Love Like Christ

February 24, 2021

Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;

~I Corinthians 13:4

True love is hard to come by. When you find it you may feel as though you have found treasure. Your heart skips a beat, you tremble at the very thought of them, you wait long hours just to see them, you put them ahead of yourself and you long to spend everyday with them. One's heart desires love that lifts them up, strengthens them, makes them smile or is willing to sacrifice anything for them. We know love, true love, originated from God who is love. "He who does not love does not know God, for God is love."

(I John 4:8)

There can be fabricated love. One type in which disguises itself as the real thing yet makes you feel uneasy, sad or down right unwanted. One that wears a mask of "true love." A worldly type of love, if you will. One that makes you feel good temporarily yet after a time being you recognize the intents of their true heart. "As in water face reflects face, So a man’s heart reveals the man."

(Proverbs 27:19)

What so ever is revealed is brought to the surface in time and you begin to understand which kind of "love" you are dealing with.

"In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him." (I John 4:9)

We must ask ourselves, is it the kind that comes from Jesus? Is it the kind that is puffed up in itself? Paul reminds us that the love of Jesus does not envy, parade itself or puff itself up. The love of Jesus is kind and long suffering. The love of Jesus puts all others before themselves and turns their cheek at a slap.

"But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also." (Matthew 5:39)

Jesus did exactly this for all of us and calls us to do the same. If we truely know Jesus, if we truely follow Jesus, we will not hesitate to love those who hate us, to pray for those who persecute us; " But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you." (Matthew 5:44)

We will ask for forgiveness for those who have wronged us; "Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep."

(Acts 7:60)

For those who truely love us we will feel that love of Christ pouring out into our souls, feeding it with gladness, edifying it with strength and lifting us up rather then pulling us down. When we begin to feel otherwise, we are not aligned to that of which is the love of Jesus Christ. We are called to imitate the Lord. Jesus tells us to love our neighbors; "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another." (John 13:34)

The very fact that we are here today is because of Him. The least we could do is shine His love throughout, without contentions, hatred or bitterness. We must wonder to ourselves, is this how Jesus would love another? Or if we are with someone who may be in question, is this someone who is loving as Jesus would? Am I feeling the effects of true love or masked love? Eventually things are revealed. "For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light." (Mark 4:22)

My only desire and concern when ministering to others or being with my family in Christ is to edify them, shine the light of Jesus and make them feel like they are truely wanted. If I am to make them feel otherwise, I am not imitating Jesus. Our desires as Christians should be to build one another up, offer prayer, sacrifice ones self for another at any cost and devout time to hearing what one needs. If we are doing anything for our own sake, well then what is our true intentions? If you are feeling unloved today, know the Lord Jesus died for you because He loves you so much. If you are dealing with a type of love that is puffed up, know that Jesus says this is not love. As we fill ourselves more with God's presence we will be filled with His desires, we will begin to naturally love people we do not even know. We will begin to pray for others even as they hate us. We will give all of our time to as many people at a time that we need no matter how tired we may feel, as love suffers long.

"This is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, that as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it." (II John 1:6)

Selfishness, boasting, pride and acts of hatred are not of God. Not by any means. We must constantly search ourselves.

"Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties." (Psalms 139:23)

We must make sure the we have the right light within us, asking God to reveal this to us.

"Therefore take heed that the light which is in you is not darkness." (Luke 11:35)

We are to be filled with the bright light of Christ, to set our lamps on lampstands to show those who come in to see just that and nothing less. This is how we can help more people, direct them to Jesus quicker and genuinely make them feel wanted. Do not be discouraged my friends if you have felt otherwise by anyone, especially for the faith which is in you. Jesus warned us of those who will hate us. "Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also." (John 15:20)

The fruits that our hearts bring forth should line up to that which is in Jesus, for His vine. Even as they hate, persecute or reject us my friends, we must continue to love them, pray for them and give the rest to God. This is exactly what Jesus our Lord wants of us. Let us only obey Him. "We love Him because He first loved us." (I John 4:19)

Let's pass it on. Shine it into a very dark world. Bring more people to feel the joy that is set before them. Strive for edification. Bring Glory to His Name. Love eachother.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank you for loving me so much that You manifested that very Love into this world to be given as a sacrifice for me to know You. I am forever cherishing that love that is long suffering, kind, helpful and lifts up my fellow brothers, sisters and those who do not know You yet. Lord, use me to shine Your light into a dark world as love grows cold. I believe I am to imitate You at all costs, even to the point of my own life; if need be, Your will not mine. I trust in You and I give myself for whatever You need of me, even if that may cause someone to hate me as they did to many martyrs past and present. Your love is everlasting and unfailing. Your love conquers all. I pray for those who suffer with not knowing You, please open the eyes and ears of them. The joy of the Lord is my strength and without it I would not know a love such as this. I praise You, I am graciously serving You and I am honored to be Yours. Fill me with more courage to stand and long suffer for the love of others, In the most loving Name of all I pray, Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.