Motivated by Love
MOTIVATED BY LOVE
There are many virtues that we should aspire to as we live and grow in our faith and relationship with our Father God through Jesus Christ our Saviour. The Apostle Paul said:
“But now faith, hope, love abide these three, but the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13 v 13
Love matters!!! So much so, that the Apostle John said:
“Beloved let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” 1 John 4 v 7 – 8
Love is expressed through the spirit and the heart. The greatest expression of the love of our Father God towards us all is found at the cross – a symbol of His gracious, sacrificial love for us, through Jesus Christ, our Saviour, and our Lord.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3 v 16
Jesus Christ was obedient to death on the cross because He partnered with our Father God in His love for us. We know this because He said:
“Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Nevertheless, not my will be Your will be done.” Luke 22 v 42
“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 be willing to die for someone who is especially good. But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, He will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of His Son while we were still His enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of His Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.” Romans 5 v 6 – 11
The cross is a place of love, but it is also a place of forgiveness.
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1 v 9
Forgiveness is an act of kindness that expresses the condition of our heart towards others. How is your heart today? Is it reflective of the compassionate heart of Jesus Christ? This is what the Apostle Luke recorded in his account of the crucifixion:
“When they came to the place called The Skull, they crucified Him, there along with the criminals, one on His right and the other o His left. Then Jesus said “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up His garment by casting lots.” Luke 23 v 33 -34
Sacrificial love is forgiving love. It is God’s template for how we should express His love to others. The Apostle Matthew said:
“For if you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.” Matthew 6 v 14
The Apostle Paul both encouraged and advised the Ephesian church to:
“Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” Ephesians 4 v 32
This is not easily done in your own strength. To express the heart of Christ you need the mind of Christ. The Apostle Paul said:
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12 v 2
Choosing to stay close to God in prayer and reading your Bible, invites the Holy Spirit to teach you and to lead you. Your mind and your heart will be impacted to act with the mind and heart of Jesus Christ. We can learn to love anew.
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13 v 34 – 35
Loving anew is loving God’s way. Jesus made a distinction between the world’s view of love and His view of love:
“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full.” Matthew 6 v 32 – 34
This is not godly love. It matters how you love and who you love.
When one of the religious scribes overheard Jesus having a debate with some Sadducees about the Resurrection, he thought he would test Jesus with his own line of questioning. He asked Jesus:
“Which commandment is the most important of all?” Mark 12 v 29
Jesus replied “This is the most important: “Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all our soul and with all our mind and with all your strength.” The second is this: “Love your neighbour as yourself.” No other commandment is greater than these.” Mark 12 v 29 – 31
Love matters!!!
“Little children, let us not love with words or with tongue, but in deeds and truth” 1 John 3 v 8
Our Father God expects us to be active in demonstrating His love to others within the Church and especially to those outside the Church. When we read the words of the Apostle Paul, we are encouraged to examine ourselves. It is not just what we do, especially in our service to our Father God, but the motivation and driving force behind what we do that matters.
“If I speak in tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a ringing gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have absolute faith, so as to move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give my possessions to the poor and exult in the surrender of my body but have not love, I gain nothing.” 1 Corinthians 13 v 1 – 3
As we act, we need to remember that:
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love takes no pleasure in evil but rejoices at the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.” 1 Corinthians 13 v 4 - 8
The Apostle Paul also said:
“Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another, for he who loves his neighbour has fulfilled the law.” Romans 13 v 8
The Apostle Luke gave examples of how to love others:
“But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” Luke 6 v 35 - 36
What an honour to be called children of God, the Most High! God recognises us as His family when we reflect His love through mercy.
The Apostle John also said:
“See how great a love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we would be called children of God, and such we are. For this reason, the world does not know us, because it does not know Him.” 1 John 3 v 1
The Apostle Paul recognised the dilemma of the world not knowing God when he said:
“But how can they call on Him to save them unless they believe in Him? And how can they believe in Him if they have never heard about Him? And how can they hear about Him unless someone tells them. And how can they tell them unless they are sent? As it is written “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring Good News.” Romans 10 v 14 – 15
The Good News of our Father God’s love for us through the resurrected life of Jesus Christ is His very public message of His love for everyone, because our Father God loves His creation. God’s love is the greatest of all love stories.
There are many scriptures about love in the Bible, but I will leave you these final words from the Apostle Paul:
“Therefore, as the elect of God, Holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with hearts of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with one another and forgive any complaint you may have against someone else. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which is the bond of perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts for to this you were called as members of the body. And be thankful.”
Colossians 3 v 12 – 15
Amen xxx