In the previous message we discussed the importance of love and took a look at the below passages of scripture which emphasizes the priority it should hold in our lives:
Jesus commands us to love others! - 1 John 3:23 (NKJV)
He says people will know that we are His disciples by the love we have for one another! - John 13:34-35 (AMP)
The bible says that though we can possess all knowledge, understand all mysteries, prophecy, have faith, give all our possessions away to the poor, etc. That if we don't have love - we are nothing! - 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 (AMP)
That love is the fulfillment of the law! - Romans 13:8-10 (AMP)
That he who does not love, does not know God! - I John 4:7-11 (NKJV)
Now it's very important to point out that when we discuss the importance of loving others, that we don't view this through the lenses of our own understanding. In other words, when the Bible says that God wants us to love others, this isn't based on our definition or standard of love which may be influenced by what we watched on TV or read in a magazine, or what we experienced from others and how they may have treated us. We don't love by our standards - We're expected to love by God's standards - by His definition of love.
I believe that one of the best ways to do this is by taking a look at the below passages:
John 3:16-17 (NKJV)
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
Romans 5:1-8 (NIV/NLT)
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God...
When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.
2 Corinthians 5:21 (AMP)
He made Christ who knew no sin to [judicially] be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we would become the righteousness of God [that is, we would be made acceptable to Him and placed in a right relationship with Him by His gracious lovingkindness].
1 John 3:16 (AMP)
By this we know [and have come to understand the depth and essence of His precious] love: that He [willingly] laid down His life for us [because He loved us]. And we ought to lay down our lives for the believers.
1 John 4:7-11 (NKJV)
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation (payment) for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
These passages tell us about what God did for us by sending Jesus Christ to the Earth to pay the penalty for OUR sins, so that by faith in Him, we could become righteous. It shows us how God demonstrated His love towards us and the extent to which He was prepared to go in order to have an eternal relationship with us ... Not only has this sacrifice brought us right standing with God but it means we can now enter into a covenant with Him and give us access to all of His promises, the greatest of which is being able to have a loving relationship with Him throughout all eternity, which starts now while on the Earth.
This wasn't something God was "forced" to do ... it's something HE CHOSE to do.
This choice on the part of God shows us how valuable we are to Him,
It enables us to experience His grace and forgiveness,
His faithfulness,
Mercy,
Patience,
Acceptance,
Comfort,
Encouragement,
Peace, joy and love.
It gives us hope, strength, faith, freedom, confidence and contentment.
It rebuilds and restores.
It establishes us and makes us whole.
It provides and takes care of us.
It heals and protects us.
It leads and guides us.
It gives our lives true meaning, purpose and direction.
It equips and prepares us for life after physical death.
This we get to experience on a daily basis! ... and as we grow in this relationship we become more and more aware of the fact that we can't live life without Him - that we don't want to - and that we need Him at all times and in everything we do.
It makes us appreciate everything He does for us, knowing we did nothing to earn or deserve it, and it motivates us to love Him in return ... all because of the decision He has taken, to consistently and continuously, love us the way He does.
It's with this in mind that I want to come back to 1 John 4:7-11, "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation (payment) for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another."
Verse 11 says that if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another ... It's on the basis of taking a look at how God so loved us (as I did above) that we're instructed/expected to love one another ... when we reflect on God's love towards us, it should motivate us to love others the same way ... this is the standard with which we're expected to love others - by looking at how God loves us and loving others the same way. This reflection should make us realise that if love is of God, as the verse says above, then His love towards us should serve as the benchmark with which we should love others ... That our standard for loving others is based on His standard of love - the love with which He so loves us ... That is His standard - for He is love!
Amen
Next time we'll take a look at some practical examples of how we can measure our standard of love.