How can you tell a juicy, sweet, tasty orange from one that is dry and flavorless? Which orange would you prefer to have in your fruit bowl just waiting for a family member or guest to bite into it?
How can you tell a follower of Christ from a fan? Which would be the better role model to hang with and learn from? Who is more likely to share Christ’s love with those they encounter?
As Christians, our behavior should stand out from the crowd. When people associate with us, it should be evident that what we have to offer will be tastier and sweeter than what the world has to offer. We do this by staying connected to the vine who is Christ.
I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit;
apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that
is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.
John 15:5-6
Christ’s love will naturally and consistently flow out of us when we abide in his love. I remember when I first fell in love with my husband. Everyone knew it even though I never said a word. The love I felt for him flowed into everything I did and to everyone I met. I sang as I took care of the most mundane tasks. Things that might otherwise set me off or trigger a reaction, barely warranted a nod. Why? Because I was consumed with love. Even today, 20+ years later, my cousins wonder how I can still look so dreamy eyed when I talk about him.
Does Christ’s love flow out of me the same way? I would like to say yes. But I can’t. I am working on it and each day as I spend time with him developing our relationship, my love grows stronger, and I find myself looking for opportunities to share with others. I have a long way to go. Thankfully, we have a patient God.
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness,
but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish,
but that all should reach repentance.
2Peter 3:9
As a child, it made me happy to obey my parents. (Okay. There were a few exceptions when I wasn’t so happy about it.) Why? Because I loved them and wanted to make them happy and make them proud of me. They say we all have a love language. For me, it’s acts of service. For my husband, it’s words of affirmation. For God, it’s obedience. And, unlike parents, he only asks for obedience in two ways:
And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with
all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’
The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”
Mark 12:30-32
(That doesn’t mean we can break the other commandments. These two commands simply encompass all the others.)
How do we know this is God’s love language? Just look at Christ’s life.
John 15:9-10
As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.
John 14:31
but he comes so that the world may learn that I love the Father and do exactly what my Father has commanded me.
Hebrews 10:7
Then I said, ‘Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll— I have come to do your will, my God.
John 12:49
For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken.
Hebrews 5:8
Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered
Philippians 2:8
And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross
Luke 22:42
Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.
I love my husband and therefore, I look for opportunities to give him words of affirmation. Likewise, because I love God, I need to look for opportunities to obey him. Those I love need to include people with whom I disagree, those who are different than me, and even those who seem to be unlovable.
If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children,
how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
Matthew 7:11
God is love. If we abide in him, we can do as he has commanded and love those who are unloving towards us. There are many that do not love God, yet he still loves them. And this is the distinction between those who believe and are followers of Christ and those who do not believe or are just fans. Our love must look different than the love of the world. We must love as Jesus loved.
When we love as Jesus loves, we find peace and joy.
John 15:11
I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.
Romans 15:13
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him,
so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Bottom Line: Abiding in Christ’s love overflows into everyone’s life around you.
Challenge: Speak encouragement into someone’s life. Share how you see Jesus working through that person. Reveal God’s love by expressing your joy in Christ and his love for you.
Blessings,
– PSG –
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