John 13:35 (AMP)
35 By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you have love and unselfish concern for one another.”
Love is the foundation of Christianity because God is love. Anything that is done apart from love, no matter how good it may look or sound, profits nothing because in Christianity, love must be the foundation upon which we build everything.
Jesus said that one distinct factor among those who are his disciples is the love they have for others. Love and unselfish concern for others, now that’s a tall order, especially in today’s world where a “me first” attitude is most common.
Jesus talks about having a genuine love for each other, not just for those who come to your church or denomination, not just for those who belong to your race or social class.
The apostle Paul broke this down for us when he wrote;
Philippians 2:3 (AMP)
3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit [through factional motives, or strife], but with [an attitude of] humility [being neither arrogant nor self-righteous], regard others as more important than yourselves.
Let me make this personal, “As a disciple of Jesus I should not do anything from selfishness or empty conceit. Everything I do should be from an attitude of humility, being neither arrogant nor self-righteous. I must regard others as more important than myself!” The question is, how true is that statement when we look at how we live life?
God is love and the more we walk in obedience to His word, the more we become like Him. 1st Corinthians 13 breaks down for us what love looks like and how God would expect of us to walk in love when we interact and deal with each other. We are reminded over and over again in the New Testament to love one another, that ought to give us a hint of how essential this is to the God we serve. We are His children, and how we treat each other is a reflection on His character. When we identify with Him, then we must exemplify His character.
The world is watching and though they sometimes ignore the message we carry, how we treat them and each other can draw them closer or away from God.
A true disciple of Christ loves others unconditionally.
Reflections
Who is the one person you love the most on this earth? Why do you love them so?
Would it be possible to extend that same love to others around you? What is holding you back from doing so?
What must we do as the church to ensure that the love of Christ is felt more in our communities?
