Christlike
Love
“If
you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ love
those who love them” (Luke 6:32). Many Christians love those who love them and think that they
are showing the love of Christ by doing that. However, that kind of love is
part of human nature; it is common to everyone.
There is a love that
only Christians have. It comes from the Lord. “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still
sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8). Jesus’ love for us had nothing
to do with our love or our loveliness. It had to do with His loving nature and
our need. When we share this kind of love with others, it cannot be based on
their love or loveliness.
Love
is Patient
“Be imitators of
God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as
Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice
to God” (Eph. 5:1-2).
To live a life
of love, you must know what love is and how Jesus expressed it. Paul describes
love wonderfully in 1 Corinthians 13. I would like to highlight two very
important aspects.
“Love is
patient…” (1 Cor. 13:4). Jesus was an example of patience: “But for that very
reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus
might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe
on him and receive eternal life” (1 Tim. 1:16).
“Love is kind…”
(1 Cor. 13:4). God is also an example of kindness: “But when the kindness and
love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things
we had done, but because of his mercy” (Titus 3:4).
Infinite
patience and kindness together result in mercy. “Do you show contempt for the
riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God’s
kindness leads you toward repentance?” (Rom. 2:4). If we are impatient with our
wives, husbands, children, parents, coworkers, or the unconverted, we are not
living a life of love.
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