Rise to His standard of Love
LUKE 6::32-36
32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33“If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34“If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners in order to receive back the same amount. 35“But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. 36“Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
This infamous Luke passage contrasts the old code of conduct with a new and better way. By doing so, we observe a higher form of love.
Most people when they think of the ‘L’ word will conjure up a less than accurate perception of this misunderstood state. In fact, Christians often concede to a more secular interpretation, downgrading love to a sentiment. After all, doesn’t love grow like an emotion? However if we were to examine the biblical Love, we would see that this high order is far superior than its secular counterpart. God’s Love is indeed paramount in your Christian walk.
1 Corithians 13 4-8
4. Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant
5. or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;
6. it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.
7. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8. Love never ends.
Love is unconditional, edifies, and never fails. It is found in the Spirit. It is pure and your key to Life.
Galatians 5:22
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
SECULAR LOVE
This love is truly a false imitation. The following traits are usually associated with this secular sentiment.
It is motivated primarily by selfishness, physicality,, and conditions, displaying inpatients, irritabilities, resentfulness, lies, disrespect, jealousy, emotions. It often seeks a reward and has limitations. We love those who love us (on most days) and hate those who hate us.
Selfishness is truly an act of the flesh that can stir up so much discord.
5. or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;
6. it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.
7. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8. Love never ends.
Love is unconditional, edifies, and never fails. It is found in the Spirit. It is pure and your key to Life.
Galatians 5:22
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
SECULAR LOVE
This love is truly a false imitation. The following traits are usually associated with this secular sentiment.
It is motivated primarily by selfishness, physicality,, and conditions, displaying inpatients, irritabilities, resentfulness, lies, disrespect, jealousy, emotions. It often seeks a reward and has limitations. We love those who love us (on most days) and hate those who hate us.
Selfishness is truly an act of the flesh that can stir up so much discord.
If we were to rejoice in truth then we would have to admit that secular love is a disastrous sentiment, while God’s Love is is the highest form of His order. It’s where God’s mercy, grace, and forgiveness are found in great abundance. True Love brings Peace and ultimately Life.
Jesus’ Love was selfless.
John 15:12-14
12. “This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.
13. “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.
14.“You are My friends if you do what I command you.
Our faith leads to Love, Peace, and Life.
1 John 3:14
We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. The one who does not love remains in death.
Rise to His standard of Love.
