Who must I love?

The realization that God loves you is certainly one of the greatest things you can experience.  But with that realization comes a responsibility- to love others with that same kind of love.

          And a lawyer stood up and put Him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” And He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How does it read to you?” And he answered, “YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND; AND YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.” Lk 10:25–27.

When confronted with this reality, the lawyer quickly asked an obvious question….

    And He said to him, “You have answered correctly; DO THIS AND YOU WILL LIVE.” But wishing to justify himself, he said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Lk 10:28–29.

To answer his question the Lord told the parable of "The Good Samaritan".  In this story a man fell in among robbers and was beaten, stripped, and left for dead on the side of the road.  A Priest passed him by, then a Levite, and finally a "good Samaritan" came along.  Those of a common culture with religious motivation should have helped, but didn't.  Only the stranger, from another culture and religious background took time to help.  He had no extrinsic motivation only intrinsic compassion and mercy.  He proved to be the true "neighbor" to the man.

Who must I love?

Jesus answered this question again in the "Sermon on the Mount"…

          “You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy. “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. “For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? Mt 5:43–46.

Since God loves all, so should we.  Now this raises an interesting question.

How can I love this way?

1. Remember that you are an unlovely sinner and God loves you.  If we think that God's love for us is deserved in some way we will never find it within ourselves to love the undeserving. However if we know deep in our hearts that God's love for us is one of mercy and grace then we are better able to extend that same mercy and grace to others.

      But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Ro 5:8.

2. Remember that God loves that person who may be hard for you to love. No matter how strained or awkward your relationship may be with another your heavenly Father loves them with a perfect unconditional love.  Jesus loves them and died for them.  If God loves you and God loves the other, then who are you to withhold love from that person?  We have a moral imperative to love unconditionally. 

3. Heart preparation is necessary. 

      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 Pe 1:22.

To love one another fervently from the heart takes sincere heart preparation.  Selfishness and pride will prevent love.  Resentment and hurt from the past can block the free expression of God's love. 

• Begin by confessing all known sin- any attitude that you know to be displeasing to God.  
• Claim forgiveness and cleansing based on 1 Jn 1:9. 
• Be filled with the Spirit according to Eph 5:18.  
• Learn to love by faith.  Trust God to control your life and express His love through you.  You can become his mouthpiece and his hands and feet. 

As a young Christian I was astounded by realizing God loved me.  I was also troubled by the realization that He also loved my mother.  We had a very strained relationship.  I knew I have some serious soul-searching to do.  I wanted to begin loving my mother in a new, Spirit-filled way.  It all came down to simple acts of kindness and generosity.  Letting Jesus love her through me.  There was a significant transformation in our relationship.

Prayer of consecration:

"Lord Jesus, my heart has been full of self and pride.  I have been resistant to love others as you would. In failing to love I have sinned.  Thank-you for forgiving my sin through your death on the cross.   Now take control of my life and love through me.  To you be all the glory and praise. Amen."