Some might say it is so easy to love, while others would say it presents great challenges. If being a Christian is an easy task, why do people often fail to live out their faith? God's love will always supersede any love that we could ever imagine! While our flesh is warring against God's Spirit, His Spirit is at war against our flesh!
In scripture we find the greatest commandment: Jesus said, "'Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.' This is the most important, the first on any list. But there is a second to set alongside it: 'Love others as well as you love yourself.' These two commands are pegs; everything in God's Law and the Prophets hangs from them." ~Matthew 26:37-40 The Msg
It is easy to love people at a distance and to show them Christ's love when they are not walking in our every day path, but when God places people in paths often crossed, it can at times present challenges. We begin to see people for who they really are, not the persona that is presented the first time you meet. The more you are with someone, you begin to learn their strengths, as well as their weaknesses. You learn what makes them laugh and what makes them cry. You also learn the behaviors or habits, good or bad that can often test the best of the best! Despite being good or bad, these things should not determine our love for others.. It is in these moments that we must find the Love of Christ that supersedes all! Not to tolerate, but to genuinely love as Christ loves! I love how The Message says it:
Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that.
"In a word, what I'm saying is, Grow up. You're kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you." Matthew 5:43-48
The evidence of our relationship with God can be found in how we express love toward others.. Love is not merely a simple word, rather it is actions based on the truth of God's word.. God help us to learn to truly love as you love! I heard it said, instead of asking God to teach us to love as He loves, pray that He will fill you with himself and that He would love in and through you.. God infiltrate us with your spirit, that we might be more like you; That we might love without condition, without expectation, seeking nothing in return, while crucifying our flesh and dying to self so that we might be more like you!
As Christians, they should know us by our love! Do those who you pass daily, weekly, monthly know you by your love, the love of Christ?
I liked this quote a lot: "Human love ends when personal sacrifice with no hope of gain begins."
