Pleasing God, Making Disciples of Jesus Christ

Loving As Jesus Loves

1 CORINTHIANS 13:13 – So now faith, hope and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

THEME OF THE DAY. LOVING AS JESUS LOVES. Every Christian is an ambassador and artist. We represent Christ in our worlds every day. We also paint a picture of the unseen Christ for all the world to see. The issue is not “Are we representing and painting a picture of the Lord Jesus?”. The issue is whether the representation and portrait is accurate. The Apostle Paul wrote, We are ambassadors for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20). This designation as the Lord’s ambassadors is in the context of the most important quality in a person rightly representing Christ and painting an accurate picture of him – For the love of Christ controls us (2 Corinthians 5:14). If we are going to show the world the proper image of the unseen Christ it will be by His love. Christianity is a message of love. God is love, and His people represent Him by love; His love controlling them. And this love is not a human emotion, a human invention, or by human definition. It is God’s love in Jesus displayed before us to be modeled by us – 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. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another (John 13:34-35). So, what would that look like? How did Jesus love and expect us to do likewise to people, particularly, His people? Here are four displays of His love found in John’s gospel. I only want to list them, provide the scripture supports for them, and then challenge us to do three things. First, do self-examination to see if our lives reflect these. Then, study the scriptures, and thirdly, pray asking the Lord to help us put these into practice so we will represent and paint Him well.

– Jesus loved His disciples by being an example to them

“When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you” (John 13:12-15).

– Jesus loved His disciples by comforting them

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also” (John 14:1-3).

– Jesus loved His disciples by sacrificing for them

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you” (John 15:12-14).

– Jesus loved His disciples by praying for them

“I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours” (John 17:9).

Ambassadors and artists. Yes, that is what we are as believers in the Lord Jesus. May the Lord help us to represent Him well in the former, and to “paint His portrait” accurately in the latter; both by our love for all people.

PRAYER: “Father, may Your Son’s love be the dominant force in my life.”

QUOTE: “To be under the control of Christ’s love is the definition of walking in the Spirit, filled by the Spirit.”