Post by Cindy on Jun 3, 2016 10:29:52 GMT -5
Jesus taught the disciples by washing their feet that the key to love is humility. Here is how closely love is tied to humility: If you don’t love, it’s because you’re proud. And God hates a proud heart. Those who are proud have no capacity for love. In Philippians 2:3–4, Paul says, “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.” That is exactly what Jesus did, and how He taught His disciples to love.
How can we manifest visible love? First, we can admit it when we have wronged someone. If you are not willing to go to somebody you have wronged and make things right, you call into question your commitment to Christ, and the church will suffer because of your unwillingness to love.
A second way to show love is by forgiving those who have wronged us—whether we are asked or not. No matter how serious the wrong you have suffered may be, love demands that you forgive it. Christ forgave those who had mocked Him, spit on Him, and then crucified Him. The wrongs we generally suffer seem insignificant compared to what He suffered, and yet how willing are we to follow His example and forgive immediately?
Scripture is clear and unyielding on this principle of unconditional forgiveness. ...
Do you really want to maintain a testimony of love in this world? Then accept whatever comes your way, praise the Lord, and let His love flow through you to the one who wronged you. That kind of love would confound this world.
Real love is costly, and the one who truly loves will have to sacrifice, but while you sacrifice in this world you’re gaining immeasurably in the spiritual realm. And you are displaying the most visible, practical, obvious mark of a true disciple.
MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2001). How to survive in a world of unbelievers: Jesus’ words of encouragement on the night before his death
“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 does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. ” (1 Corinthians 13:4–8)
How can we manifest visible love? First, we can admit it when we have wronged someone. If you are not willing to go to somebody you have wronged and make things right, you call into question your commitment to Christ, and the church will suffer because of your unwillingness to love.
A second way to show love is by forgiving those who have wronged us—whether we are asked or not. No matter how serious the wrong you have suffered may be, love demands that you forgive it. Christ forgave those who had mocked Him, spit on Him, and then crucified Him. The wrongs we generally suffer seem insignificant compared to what He suffered, and yet how willing are we to follow His example and forgive immediately?
Scripture is clear and unyielding on this principle of unconditional forgiveness. ...
Do you really want to maintain a testimony of love in this world? Then accept whatever comes your way, praise the Lord, and let His love flow through you to the one who wronged you. That kind of love would confound this world.
Real love is costly, and the one who truly loves will have to sacrifice, but while you sacrifice in this world you’re gaining immeasurably in the spiritual realm. And you are displaying the most visible, practical, obvious mark of a true disciple.
MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2001). How to survive in a world of unbelievers: Jesus’ words of encouragement on the night before his death
“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 does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. ” (1 Corinthians 13:4–8)
!!
