“My
command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” Jn. 15:12
Believers in America today too
often believe “to love as Christ loves”, means we must accept, then embrace all of society's lifestyle choices and cravings.
Not long ago, we Cleary’s had a
note placed on our minivan in the high school parking lot telling us that if we’re truly Believers, we would “love
as Christ loves” and embrace a particular progressive movement at the school.
Question: What does Christ mean when He says, “love as I
love”? Does Jesus mean embrace all lifestyle choices and cravings of sinful
man? Or does He mean something quite different?
Let’s explore what He says in His
love letter to us:
First, Jesus tells us and shows us how much
He loves us:
His unfailing love is as high as the heavens. His
faithfulness reaches to the clouds. He is so good, so ready to forgive, so full
of unfailing love for all who ask for His
help. ...God loved
the world so much that He gave His one and only Son (God had His Son beaten,
scourged, forsaken and crucified), so that everyone who believes in Jesus will
not perish but have eternal life. (Ps. 57:10; Ps. 86:5 Jn. 3:16)
Next, Jesus describes what love looks like:
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and
endures through every circumstance. 1Cor. 13:4-7
Then Jesus cautions us:
Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you
love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world
offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see,
and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father,
but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything
that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever. 1
Jn. 2:15-17
The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it,
but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world. Don't
you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it
again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of
God.” Jn. 15:19; Jms. 4:4
What love He’s lavished on us who
believe. Oh that we may love
others in the manner He intends, and
not via our own intentions in His name.
His is coming so soon.
Much love,
Shaun and Betsy
