“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love”
-Ephesians 5:1-2
Having great love and affection towards the unloving, always displaying Jesus’ love. It’s mercy. It’s charity. It’s respect. Unconditionally, no ifs and or buts.
The word “love” is probably the most misunderstood and abused word in the English language. Wikipedia defines it as follows: “Love encompasses a range of strong and positive emotional and mental states, from the most sublime virtue or good habit, the deepest interpersonal affection, to the simplest pleasure.
An example of this range of meanings is that the love of a mother differs from the love of a spouse, which differs from the love of food. Most commonly, love refers to a feeling of a strong attraction and emotional attachment.” Wikipedia
It is clear then that we must make a conscious decision to understand what God means with the word “love” if we fully want to understand the work of God in this world we are living in. There are 354 references to love in 319 Scripture verses, making it clear that this should be a topic we must study deeply.
We will do well to remember that there is nothing we can do to make God love us more, as He loves us, period. There is no prison as strong as religious ones, which is very sad as they are prisons we have created for ourselves.
Church groups that want to make us believe we must earn God’s love and our Salvation often lead to groups that splinter off. Often grouping people in clusters that would feed each other’s insecurities.
What, then does love mean to God?
“If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and remain in his love. I have spoken these things to you, that my joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be made full. “This is my commandment, that you love one another, even as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant, doesn’t know what his lord does. But I have called you friends, for everything that I heard from my Father, I have made known to you.”
-John 15:10-15
How would one go about achieving this momentous Scripture?
“If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and remain in his love.”
-John 15:10
Jesus makes it clear that it is expected that we must keep to the commandments just as He has kept them. When we do this it will result in us remaining in God’s love. Think of it as one sitting in God’s hand. He does not force us to stay there. However, should we choose to climb off, we are no longer in His will.
That is a choice we make. For us to remain in God’s love we must stay safe in His hands. I have spoken these things to you, that my joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be made full. “This is my commandment, that you love one another, even as I have loved you.”
Jesus has given us a clear example to follow, showing us that if we do follow His example, our joy will be in Him. It is the joy that is complete, lacking nothing. He continues to tell us more about this commandment He expects us to keep… love for each other just as He has loved us. Unconditional and to His death, even death on a cross.
“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do whatever I command you.”
-John 15:13
This is such an awesome passage John 15:13! Jesus calls us His friends. If we accept Him as such we will do whatever He commands us to do. He does not expect us to do anything He has not done himself.
For this reason, He can expect us to lay down our lives for our friends too.“No longer do I call you servants, for the servant doesn’t know what his lord does. But I have called you friends, for everything that I heard from my Father, I have made known to you.”
Again Jesus calls us friends. If He says something twice in such a short time, we know we should pay attention. He also shares that He has made us know everything God the Father has said to Him. It means that it is there for us should we only make the effort to find it.
The Challenge
Don Francisco has this amazing song: “Love is not a feeling”. He uses love in the song as a verb, which means there is something that you need to do. Love is then not a feeling but an act of your free will. How will you love your Friend – Jesus?
How will you love His friends and your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ?
How will you honour God for His love that He shows to us?
May we find Ruth’s loyal love and follow faithfully in Jesus’ footsteps. Bible Project has the following short clip on “Loyal Love”.
