"Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart." (1 Peter 1:22)"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:34-35)
I've been thinking about what it means to love other believers like these verses portray. I like how Oswald Chambers puts it:
"...God loved me not because I was lovable, but because it was His nature to do so. Now He commands me to show the same love to others by saying, "...love one another as I have loved you" (John 15:12)."
This love does not always come naturally and easily, because it's not about loving those who are easy to love and serving others only when my own needs have been met and I feel like serving. Like anything God calls us to, we're incapable of accomplishing this perfect love by our own strength and effort. So how do we change? As we seek God and grow to be more like Christ, we learn to love as Christ does, and this love grows and shows itself in care, concern, and service to others. Having a long way to go in this area, I'm thankful that God doesn't give up on us!
1 comment:
Exactly what I needed to hear! I especially greatly appreciate that verse in Philippians 1. Thanks for this post and God bless you. I can see He has already blessed you with a lot of understanding into His word.
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