WE LIVE A LIFE OF LOVE WITH THE INCOMPARABLE LOVE OF CHRIST
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“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.” – John 13:34
We love because God first loved us. He has poured out His extraordinary love into our hearts. Out of His unconditional, all-encompassing, everlasting love, we reach out in love to one another. All we need is His love within us to impact our world.
“Let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.” – 1 John 4:7
God’s very nature is love. We, as believers, have been born again of God. His Spirit of love resides within us and unites us to Him. His wondrous love reigns in our hearts… shines in our lives… and overflows into the lives of others. We shower the world with His love.
“If we love one another, God lives in us and His love is made complete in us.” – 1 John 4:12
Jesus is the complete expression of the incomparable love of God. We abide in Him and He abides in us. The pure, holy love of our Savior fills our hearts. We grow to be more like Him as His loving nature becomes a part of us. As we reach out with His love, the invisible God is made visible to a world starved for love.
“Love does no wrong to a neighbor. Love, therefore, is the fulfillment of the law.” – Romans 13:10
The old covenant law was given by God to Moses to show His people how to live. Yet no one could keep the law completely. Jesus came as our Savior and kept the law perfectly for us. His righteous love fulfilled the law. Our faith in Him frees us from the condemnation of the law. Out of our devoted love for Jesus, we touch the lives of others with His surpassing love.
“If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself,’ you are doing right.” – James 2:8
The royal law is the law of the New Covenant… the law lived out by Jesus… a life of love. The law is no longer an outward set of rules… it is an inward way of life written upon the hearts of believers. The royal law is a law of grace and forgiveness that brings freedom. In freedom, we abide in His love. By the power of His Spirit, we walk in His perfect love.
“In everything, do to others as you would have them do to you. For this is the essence of the Law and the Prophets.” – Matthew 7:12
Jesus lived the ideal life of love. He completely met all the demands of the law and perfectly fulfilled all the prophecies of Scripture. Jesus taught us how to live this life of love by following the “Golden Rule”. A life that walks in the heavenly love of Christ fulfills the essence of the law. For the essence, the ultimate intent of the law, is love.
“By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.” – John 13:35
Jesus is our standard to follow as His disciples. Everything He did in life and death was supremely loving. His entire ministry was oriented around a deep love for God and a compassionate love for people. We are to live this same life of love as a reflection of Him.
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” – 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
How do we live a life of love? The apostle Paul gives us a beautiful description of the unconditional love manifested in the life of Christ. This love is supernatural and can only come from Him. Only through His power can we love with His supernatural love. As His spark of love is kindled in our hearts, we spread the warmth of this love into the lives of one another.
“Our love should not be just words and talk; it must be true love, which shows itself in action.” – 1 John 3:18
As we have freely received the love of Christ, we freely give His love to others. This love is displayed as the fruit of the Spirit in our lives. Love is the action that desires the best for others. We look beyond ourselves and treat one another with kindness, compassion and respect. The mercy, grace and love we have received from Jesus is passed along to those in our world.
“Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.” – Colossians 3:14
Love sees with the eyes of Christ. This dark world is hungry for love. We shine the love of Christ into the hearts of one another, drawing us all together in unity, fellowship and harmony. All we need is the incomparable, compassionate, neverending love of Jesus.
