October 18 - Love

In one of my classes we have been discussing how people perceived the kingdom of God in the first century and how it is perceived today.  The next part of that has been a discussion about how to regain the sense of urgency that the early church had in bring Christ to the world.  


I've been part of churches that are excited about taking Jesus' message to the world and when that happens, there is an incredible sense of urgency. Once you start, you can't stop!  The love of Jesus begins to flow outward and it turns into an incredible outpouring.  I've been part of churches that want to stop that message at their doors ... apathy, fear, control, pride ... all of those things are more important than being a part of his kingdom message.  


As we discussed this, we landed on the fact that the revolution Jesus brought to his day was love and this is the thing we are most frightened of today ... pure, unadulterated, selfless, giving love.  It's a difficult task and it's bigger than saying "I love you" to people that love you back.


Here's a post from August 28 of last year.

August 28, 2009 - 1 John 3:1-24 - Love One Another

John's first letter is such a glorious testament to love.

"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!" (1 John 3:1)

John absolutely adores the people to whom he is writing this letter. He wants to assure them of God's love for them. Each precious word in this chapter is meant to be internalized so that love fills the heart!

"Now that we are children of God, what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is." (1 John 3:3)

Wow! The creation story in Genesis tells us that we are made in God's image. John tells us that we don't yet understand what that looks like, but we will!

In 1 John 3:11, John goes on by telling us that the message has always been to love one another. It's a message the continually gets lost. But, a lack of love for each other is like death. "We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death. Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him." (1 John 3:14-15)

I have very few words that I can add to this passage - it speaks for itself.

"Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth ... For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. (1 John 3:18-19)

He finishes with: "And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us." (1 John 3:23-24)

The Spirit that was sent to us at Pentecost remains in us. This Spirit is our Counselor, our Teacher, our conscience. This Spirit reminds us continually that we live in Christ and he lives in us.

Love one another.