SUNDAY, 22ND DECEMBER, 2024
UNDERSTAND LOVE FROM GOD’S PERSPECTIVE – Pastor Chris
And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God (Ephesians 3:19).
I like the fact that at Christmas time many profess love; they say it’s a season to love one another. But most only assume to know what love is, whereas they really don’t. What most have experienced and understood is tolerance, not love. Tolerance is your ability to bear with others; it’s a good thing, but it shouldn’t be confused as love. That you tolerate people doesn’t mean you love them.
Even the Jews had difficulty understanding love. The Jewish mind was complex, and one of the ways God could get their attention was to give them the golden rule: “Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: l am the LORD” (Leviticus 19:18). He said to them, “Love your neighbour as yourself.” But how could a man love his neighbour as himself when even he isn’t conscious of loving himself?
This wasn’t God’s best delineation of love, but He had to work with them from the “outside.” So, He said to them, “Do unto others as you want them to do to you” (Matthew 7:12, Luke 6:31). After a while, they began to abuse this. A man could take another’s wife and say, “l don’t mind if you do the same to me. Take my rude wife.”
But when Jesus came, He manifested God’s love in a way that was different. He said, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). He showed them love from God’s perspective, and not only did He preach this love, He proved it. You can’t show or manifest true love if you don’t know Jesus.
When you hear someone say, “l can’t please you and displease myself,” such a person is quoting from the Old Testament. But Jesus says no; it’s not about pleasing yourself; it’s about laying down your life for others. It’s about making others happy even at the expense of your own feelings. There’s no greater love than this. Your understanding of this will completely change your life and your commitment to Jesus Christ, and to those for whom He died.
CONFESSIONBy the Spirit, I have an understanding of the dimensions of God’s love. I’m filled with the love of Christ, which surpasses all knowledge. I love others as Christ has loved me; my actions are motivated by genuine love, and I serve others with joy and compassion, following the example of the Lord Jesus. Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY:
1 John 4:7-10
Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. 9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son [to be] the propitiation for our sins.
Romans 12:10
[Be] kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
1 Corinthians 13:4-5 NIV
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
DAILY SCRIPTURE READING
1-Year Bible Reading Plan: Revelation 13:11-14:1-20 & Habakkuk 1-3
2-Year Bible Reading Plan: Revelation 17:11-18 & Haggai 2
