Judged by Love

I thought it fitting, since February is the “Month of Love,” to discuss how important a topic love is for Christians. The reason it is so important is because it is the standard by which our lives are measured by God. In 1 Corinthians 13:2-3, Paul writes that “If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.” Paul was not exactly a teddy bear, he could be brutal to both friend and foe alike, yet he understood the importance of our faith bearing the fruit of love so that others may see Christ through us.

This love is not just for those we like, or those we are attracted to, we see God’s call for us to treat our enemies well as early as Exodus 23:4, and Jesus commands us to flat out love them in Luke 6. So the big question is: How well do you love EVERYONE? You can say you love someone, but can they tell you love them by how you treat them, how you speak to them, and the time you offer to them?

Here is a test for you that I recently did, and failed miserably at: re-write 1 Corinthians 13:4-6, and instead of the word “Love,” insert your name. You’ll have to do some wordsmithing to make it flow together well, but when you do, read it to yourself out loud and ask yourself if you are really living up to what you just read. Then, ask yourself how you will improve in the areas you are not currently succeeding. It is important that we love others, as that is what Christ expects of us, for it is how people will see Christ here on earth.

Sincerely,
Pastor Adam