What does it mean to be a christian? What is being a christian all about? What is it that sets us apart from the rest of the world? There are many answers but they can all be summed up in one word. LOVE And Jesus gave us all kinds of examples of it during his life here on earth. The most compelling example; the most awe inspiring example, was what he gave up, what he suffered for us because He loved us so much. “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.“
Jesus showed us that love was not only a noun, it is not passive. It is also a verb and it is an action verb. It is something that we, as Christians, are compelled to do, even commanded to do. “Love one another as I have loved you.“ “Love your enemies.“ “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and with all your might.“ “Love your neighbor as your self.“
In fact, the theme that runs through the entire bible, from beginning to end, from Genesis 1:1 to Rev 22:21, is love. God's love for sinful man. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have life everlasting.“
Christie, that is one thing that drew me to you from the beginning....your love for others. Hugs and Love to you, Janet
ReplyDeleteChristie you are an amazing person and I love you dearly! Here's my contribution to your amazing endevor.
ReplyDeleteThe Bible is a love letter to us. The love of the Bible is so complex and yet so simple that this is the very thing that torments most people, Christians or otherwise. Some do not feel worthy of that love. Some can embrace the love of God for themselves but struggle at feeling a failure in being able to follow His commands such as "love your enemies" or "love your neighbor as yourself". Forgiveness may be attainable for the people mentioned, but love? It seems a daunting task at best if not impossible.
The greatest lesson I have personally learned as a Christian is the deeper understanding of the different kinds of love in the Bible and how to apply them in my life. English bibles do not have different words for the different KINDS of love mentioned in the Bible. It just says "love".
Most relate all love of the Bible as "phillio" or brotherly love, since this is most common in our human nature, but there are many places that we are told that we are "agaped" or to "agape" someone with a Godly love. To love as God loves. As is the case with "love your enemies" Jesus is asking you to "agape" them. Love them with a Godly love. Because no matter who they are or what they've done, God loves them too.
This concept is where a lot of people stumble because they continue to try and phillio instead of agape in these situations and it's impossible for us to do. But that's just the thing! WE don't have to do it! We are to be vessels for Him to flow through. We only need to let Him agape them THROUGH us. We achieve this by ASKING God to let His Holy love flow through us, to be a vessel for Him, because we in our fleshly selves can not do it. When we allow God to love others through us it is a feeling of such freedom and victory one can not explain and what seemed impossible becomes possible, because NOTHING is impossible for my God!
This is what sets us apart from the rest of the world. Anyone can phillio....do sinners not also love other sinners?....But ONLY those who have chosen to accept Christ as their Savior can have the unbridled power of The Almighty God flow through them to love another with agape love.
Ok Sermon over :) sorry I got long winded there. Love ya sister!