06/13/2021
Do we understand what it means to live fully in the love of Jesus Christ, and God Himself? Do we see it as the driving force behind every interaction they have with us, and that we have with them? Do we live out that selfsame love in our own lives… pouring it out upon all those who we come into contact with? Sometimes we find ourselves reserving that love for those people and circumstances that we feel are worthy, and dole it out as if we only had a tiny bit to give, and that each drop is precious, but God’s love is unlimited, and this is the same love He gives to Jesus, and Jesus to us. Our love is indeed precious but its value is in its effect… not in its quantity… give it freely!
“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.”
John 15:9 ESV
What do we have? Let’s take a minute and take stock of all that we have. Let’s look at our physical possessions, and our mental, physical, and spiritual attributes too. Now let’s look at our list… If we think we have great wealth and power, that our physical and mental strength is a treasure, or take pride in our spiritual prowess, but the first, foremost, and greatest, item on our list is not love, then we have nothing. Listen to what Paul says regarding the things we have:
“And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.”
1 Corinthians 13:2 ESV
What do we gain? We might be a great negotiator, a successful businessman, a mighty thinker who solves impressive world problems, or a man who preaches powerful sermons, but without love what have we actually gained by our efforts? We have gained nothing.
“If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.”
1 Corinthians 13:3 ESV
We might try to buy our salvation, or gain power in the church by our gifts and offerings, but if they are not earned and given in love then they are no better than blood money… no better than the silver pieces of Judas…
“But the chief priests, taking the pieces of silver, said, “It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since it is blood money.””
Matthew 27:6 ESV
Oh we might use our abilities to gather wealth and prestige to ourselves, but nothing we can gain without love is worth a single mite. Yet on the other hand, a single mite offered in love is more valuable than all the world’s treasure, and all the wealth of the rich…
“Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.””
Luke 21:1-4 ESV
Love is the legal tender of Heaven; it is divinely sanctioned, and determines the value of all things. Love is what God asks that we give Him, and to our neighbors. Love is the subject of the two greatest commandments, and they tell us that all else depends on it. Listen as Jesus speaks on this subject…
““Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.””
Matthew 22:36-40 ESV
So let’s pay close attention to how we go about our day, and deal lovingly, and humbly, in every situation, and with everyone we come into contact with. If we acquire things, or have gained wealth, let’s make certain our business was conducted in a loving manner, and that we treated everyone as we would want to be treated. If we give let’s insure that it is out of love, and there are no strings attached to our gifts. Even when we love, let’s give it freely, and not make our love contingent on being loved first, or in return.
“but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8 ESV
In this way we will resolve the question asked in our opening paragraph, and demonstrate by our actions that we actually understand love. In light of our soul searching today let’s ask ourselves once more… Do we understand what it means to live fully in the love of Jesus Christ, and God Himself?
Prayer:
Father, thank you for your love, and for loving me, and the world as you do. Thank you for loving your Son Jesus, and abiding in Him. Thank you Lord for the love of Christ that we receive when He abides in us, and thank you for the full understanding of your love through your Holy Spirit as he reveals it to us. Teach us to love humbly, and completely Father, with no motive other than kindness, love itself, and with no strings attached. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who has loved us from the foundation of creation, and loves us even today as you await our confession, contrition, and request for forgiveness of sin as we prepare to love, even as you do. Praised be your name for your long suffering, and for each moment we spend loving you, and all those around us. Merciful are you who doesn’t withhold your love back from us, even when we are yet in sin. Great are you who extends the hand of Jesus to us, even though it has been priced through, and then asks us lovingly to take it, and to come to you. Your grace abounds, and is poured out from your vessel of love, Jesus Christ. Wash us clean in the blood of Jesus, and declare us pure, and worthy of a seat at your table forever. Holy Father we worship you in love, spirit, and truth… hear our words, and feel the outpouring of our hearts.
Rich Forbes