Greetings! We trust you are eager to receive revelation from Truth or the Word of God. The Holy Spirit is our Teacher. God's desire is that we have a clear understanding of the insights and revelation in His Word. He desires that His children live their life according to His purposes and plans, a life more abundant. He desires that we live a life free from the kingdom of death and darkness and live in the kingdom of His life and light. Eric
We are going to search a topic today that is multi-faceted and important for us to have a clear understanding of. So, prepare yourself, we are going to dig deep and strive to understand one of the commands Jesus spoke to His disciples. If you are a believer, this word is for you.
John 15:12 (ESV) reads, "This is my commandment, that you love (agapao) one another as I have loved you." The first thing we notice in this verse regarding 'love' is that what is spoken is a 'commandment' (entole: it's an order, injunction or charge. So, our loving is not simply a good idea, or suggestion - it is a command. when we respond to His command, we intentionally choose to love regardless of the other person's merit or the cost to us. Love is rooted in God's own character. He is love, unconditional, whole hearted affection and good-will. (1 John 4:8).
To be honest, it is easy to love those who love us in return, however we have all encountered those who are hard to love. So, to begin, let's define 'love.' In most verses we will look at today, the word 'love' is either a noun or verb. The Greek words translated 'love' are agapao (verb) or agape, the noun. "Basically these words have the same meaning or connotation. They deal with the heart and mean: to love unconditionally, wholeheartedly and devotedly." When we see the Greek word agapao, it refers to the highest form of man's love and conveys "actively doing what the Lord 'prefers,' with Him, by His power and direction. 'Preferring' is Christ living His life through the believer. It is defined by God's agape love and involves our making a choice." (HELPS Word-studies). Now, getting back to John 15:12, let's focus on the second half of that verse, "love one another, as I have loved you." 'As' means: just as, in the degree that or in the same way.
At this point, we are going to try and focus on Scriptures that reveal 'how' He loves us and see how that translates to how we love one another.
1 John 4:10 and 11 (ESV), "In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another." We see in this verse that "God defines love by His saving action rather than by human feelings or achievements. He chose to initiate reconciliation with us. We must take the initiative to show love to others." Verse 11, "Beloved (believers) 'if God so loved us (by sending His Son), we also ought to love one another." God sending Jesus to die for our redemption reveals His divine love. His divine love (an action) is the foundation for every Christian relationship. "Believers have a moral responsibility to love one another with the same love they received from God. That means 'love' takes the visible form (in our actions) of forgiveness, service, generosity, patience, faithfulness, bearing witness that God's life is at work among His people" (Bible Hub Bible Study).
Romans 5:8 (NIV) reads, "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." God's love is clearly seen for us by His grace. He died for us while we were still sinners! We need to extend His grace to others and demonstrate His love in us to others. Our love cannot be conditional. He did not wait till we were 'cleaned up' to love us. We are not to wait till others are 'cleaned up' to love them!
Ephesians 5:2a and b (BSB),"and walk in love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us..." Jesus willingly surrendered Himself to death for us. It was not that human opposition overtook Him, He laid down His life and gave Himself to pay the penalty for our sins. He loves us sacrificially. Most of us are not likely at present, going to have to lay down our life for another physically. However, we can sacrificially love others by giving of our time, opening our homes, sharing our food or finances to those in need.
Ephesians 4:1 and 2 (ESV) instructs us, "I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love," 'To walk in a manner worthy of the calling you have received' in this verse exhorts us to remember that we, through the blood of Jesus were called to live as children of God. When we walk in a manner worthy of that calling, we live a righteous life, reflecting His nature and heart. Verse 2 reveals we are to be completely humble and gentle, patient and 'bearing' (showing tolerance and enduring ) with one another in love (agape) - unconditional love. His unconditional love enables us to remain committed to one another through differences, burdens, failures and offences.
If we're trying to live out God's love - we need to be willing to put others first, be slow to anger, not hold a grudge and remember that 'His love' even in us, is not a feeling, it's action and a choice.
Luke 23:34a is a dynamic illustration of how we are to love others as He loved us. On the cross, "Jesus said, Father, forgive them for they know not what they are doing......" He prayed for His enemies even while suffering in anguish for what they had done to Him.
In Matthew 5:44 (ESV) Jesus instructed, "But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." When we love our enemies unconditionally as He loves us, we have to embrace God's will through His power. If we tried to do this on our own, we would fail miserably! We cannot live a holy, loving righteous life on our own. We have no righteousness of our own in us. Jesus has become our righteousness. (1 Corinthians 1:30). We also need the empowerment of the Holy Spirit to be successful in doing fully the will of God in our lives.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 reveals what God's love is and how it applies to us, His children. He has in these verses given us examples on how we are to love others.
Love endures with patience and serenity; Love is kind and thoughtful; Love does not brag and is not proud or arrogant; Love is not rude; Love is not self-seeking; Love is not provoked or (or overly sensitive) nor easily angered: Love does not take into account a wrong endured; Love does not rejoice at injustice but rejoices with the truth (when right and truth prevail; Love bears all things (regardless of what comes; Love believes all things (looking for the best in each one); Love hopes all things (remaining steadfast during difficult times); Love endures all things (without weakening) and Love never fails (never fades not ends!).
2 Thessalonians 3:5 (ESV) is a very encouraging prayer. "May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God." 'Direct' kateuthyno means: properly to go straight down by the most direct, efficient route; to go in a direct (straight) course - avoiding all unnecessary delays, without any undue loss of time or achievement." (HELPS Word-studies)! Yes Lord! Direct our hearts to Your love!
Here are some examples of those who allowed God to enable them to demonstrate the love of God to those who did not deserve it:
Corrie Ten Boom. Some time after her release from a German concentration camp where her sister Betsy died, Corrie came face to face with one of the guards from that camp. She chose to forgive him. Her prayer was, "Jesus help me." (forgiveness is an act of the will - not an emotion). "I can't store up good feelings and behaviors - but only draw them fresh from God everyday." (Corrie Ten Boom).
An Amish mother and father who lost two daughters during a school shooting were the first to greet the shooter's parents at his funeral. They chose to minister to the parents of the murderer. They did not get over the tragedy. God continues to minister to them according to their need.
Tiki Finlayson forgave Latisha Stephens, who was driving drunk in the wrong lane and kidded Tiki's 25 years old son. Today, they travel together and share with young people, about the impact drinking and driving has on the lives of families affected by these actions
"God's love for me is perfect because it's based on Him and not me. So even when I failed He kept loving me." (Joyce Meyer). When those we are attempting to love fail, we must love them with the same love He loves us with, when we fail.
"Christ poured out love and grace and He treated us as precious. He gave us the opposite of what we deserved." Fritz Chery
"The springs of love are in God, not in us. It is absurd to look for the love of God in our hearts naturally; it is only there when it has been shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit." (Oswald Chambers).
Father God, I pray for myself and everyone reading this post right now, that you would direct our hearts to Your love. Father, may you make us increase and abound in love for one another and for all. Thank You Lord for your faithfulness and Your promise to hear us when we pray. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen (1 Thessalonians 3:12).
Scriptures were taken from:
ESV English Standard Version
BSB Berean Standard Bible
NIV New International Version