Ephesians 5:1-2
1 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.
The story is told of a young lad whose family moved from one part of town across to the other end. Although there was a church right next to their new home, the young lad insisted on crossing town to go to the church the family had always attended. After some time, the neighbor was too curious he had to ask why this was so. He asked, “Why do you insist on crossing to the other end of town to attend church, and yet we have a church right next door?” The young lad replied and said, ” Well they sure do know how to love a lad down there.”
As Disciples of Christ when we love one another then it becomes a signpost that proves two things to the world. First, it proves and displays the fact that Christ has loved us and secondly, it proves to the world that we are the Disciples of Christ. Many proclaim to know God and they go to church every Sunday but Jesus said one of the marks of His true disciples is that they would have love for one another.
Love and unity go hand in hand, where there is no unity you will not find love. Sometimes I think we forget that love and forgiveness are the foundations of our Christian faith. God loves us and he forgives us when we believe in Jesus hence these two, love and forgiveness, ought to be our hallmarks everywhere we go.
Loving one another as believers is not an option; we are commanded by Jesus to do so. Not to love one another in the way the world defines love, but to love each other as He Christ has loved us, unconditionally the way love is described for us in 1 Corinthians 13. That is the standard that has been set for us.
1 John 4:19-21 (AMP)
19 We love, because [a]He first loved us. 20 If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates (works against) his [Christian] brother he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. 21 And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should also [unselfishly] love his brother and seek the best for him.
Brothers and sisters let us love one another!
Reflections.
When in your life have you felt the most loved?
If you visited a Church for the first time, what would make you feel loved?
If your close friends were to describe you, would they say that you are a loving person? If not, what changes must you make to be a loving person?
