(THE LOVE OF JESUS)
I am trying something different with this post. I want you to see if you can find these principles in the Bible yourself and I will post the ones that I have later.
How will we recognize the love of CHRIST ? How will we know whether we or anyone else claiming to be a Christian is revealing this love ? What does it mean to love as CHRIST loved ?
Love does good and nothing but good. The Bible speaks about How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good...(ACTS 10:38) Some Christians mistakenly believe that they must have “feelings of love” for others in order to love like Jesus. This is not true. Good and pleasant words and actions reveal the Spirit of Christ.
4 statements from the pen of an inspired writer help us to understand the love of JESUS and how it does good.
1. To love as Christ loved means to manifest unselfishness at all times and in all places, by kind words and pleasant looks.
2. Christlike love places the most favorable construction on the motives and acts of others. It does not needlessly expose their faults; it does not listen eagerly to unfavorable reports, but seeks rather to bring to mind the good qualities of others.
3. The love which Christ diffuses through the whole being is a vitalizing power. Every vital part‑‑the brain, the heart, the nerves‑‑it touches with healing. By it the highest energies of the being are aroused to activity. It frees the soul from the guilt and sorrow, the anxiety and care, that crush the life forces. With it come serenity and composure. It implants in the soul joy that nothing earthly can destroy,‑‑joy in the Holy Spirit, health ‑giving, life‑giving joy.
4. Christ's love is deep and earnest, flowing like an irrepressible stream to all who will accept it. There is no selfishness in His love. If this heaven-born love is an abiding principle in the heart, it will make itself known, not only to those we hold most dear in sacred relationship, but to all with whom we come in contact. It will lead us to bestow little acts of attention, to make concessions, to perform deeds of kindness, to speak tender, true, encouraging words. It will lead us to sympathize with those whose hearts hunger for sympathy.
The love of CHRIST is the truest and most accurate standard of measurement. We can best measure human love by comparing it to this love but because many do not make the comparison love is often misunderstood by them.
The love of Christ is a golden chain binding finite human beings to the infinite God. This love passes our knowledge. Human science can not explain it. Human wisdom can not fathom it. The more we feel the influence of this love, the more Christlike we shall be
What is the quality of your love ?
Is it of a character to make your associates more Christlike ?
By the grace of God, we will continue to study these things in another post. Have a marvelous weekend.
T.K.
