I remember as a teen, among our youth group we would whisper to each other, “God loves you and so do I. Pass it on.” Then we would watch as it continued to be spoken around the room. Sincerely affirming one another in this way is encouraging. However, the passing it on is intended to go beyond mere words.
Someone has said, “Seek affection from above and then apply it to all you meet.” [original source unknown] This implies love is to be rightly focused on but is also to transcend our life to touch others. We must duly understand, then, the why, the how, and the what relative to loving.
John encouraged Christians in his first short letter. . .
“(19) We love because he first loved us.” (1 John 4:19 ESV)
Therein is the why; our reason to love. Because we have been so loved by God we ought to be compelled to also love both Him and others!
John had been in the presence of Jesus when He exhorted. . .
“ (34) A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. ” (John 13:34 ESV)
Therein is the how we are to love; loving like Jesus! The command to love was not new, but Jesus had just demonstrated the practical love of willing service in the washing of the disciple’s feet (John 13:3-12) and would soon demonstrate a new sacrificial manner of loving in the giving of His life on their behalf and ours. Before this conversation ended, Jesus would repeat the exhortation. (John 15:12) It is by loving in this way others will see we are truly His disciples (John 13:35); that we truly belong to Him!
Jesus also demonstrated what we are to love as John recorded. . .
“(31) but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here.” (John 14:31 ESV)
Jesus demonstrated a love for doing the Father’s Will. It is a love that loves the truth and lives in accordance with it. Some accept what is false because they do not love the truth. (i.e. 2 Thessalonians 2:10) Though the truth is to be spoken in love (Ephesians 4:15) love does not set aside the truth, but rejoices in it. (1 Corinthians 13:6)
Understanding the why, the how, and the what relative to true love, may we continue passing it on to the glory of God!
Have a great day GENUINELY LOVING AS WE HAVE BEEN GENUINELY LOVED!
Carl
