Do everything in love! This was an instruction written by Paul in his first letter to the Church in Corinth as he was encouraging them to be on their guard against false teachings and to stand firm in their faith.
The Church at the time was faced with many of the same problems today’s Church faces. There were false teachers, false prophets, lukewarm Christians (people who know the Word but take no interest in doing it), pew warmers and many man-made doctrines being preached that were created by falsifying the true gospel and designed to put the Church back into the bondage of sin. They were liars and thus followers of the father of lies – the Devil or Satan, his two well-known names.
Paul was encouraging the Church at the time, and indeed the Church of today, do everything in love, not the love of the world but the pure unadulterated love of God!
Whenever the New Testament writers are referring to God’s love, they use the Greek word ‘agapē’ – pronounced ‘ag-ah-pay’ which, when expanded to its full meaning, is translated in English as ‘a love that is unconditional, benevolent, charitable and freely given, it does not expect anything in return’ – we don’t have to do anything to earn it or give anything in return for it, we just need to receive it.
And as we receive God’s agapē love, so it is our duty as God’s children to show His love to others in all we do and in our service to Him.
This will bring glory to the name of Jesus and unity in the body – His Church! If we don’t have God’s love, then we don’t know God for God is love!
1 John 4:7-9 (AMP)
7 Beloved, let us [unselfishly] love and seek the best for one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves [others] is born of God and knows God [through personal experience]. 8 The one who does not love has not become acquainted with God [does not and never did know Him], for God is love. [He is the originator of love, and it is an enduring attribute of His nature.] 9 By this the love of God was displayed in us, in that God has sent His [One and] only begotten Son [the One who is truly unique, the only One of His kind] into the world so that we might live through Him.
In the above verses the Apostle John encourages the Church in much the same way as Paul does and expands the meaning of God’s love and how we should seek the best for each other unselfishly.
Unselfishly being the key word in our expression of God’s love to the world. Just as Jesus did when he gave himself up to death for us out of love so that we can receive God’s free gift of salvation through the righteousness of Jesus our Lord and Saviour!
Where do we, as born-again Christians, begin and progress in our walk of love?
Well, this one is easy! Right at the very beginning of your Christian walk, as soon as you have repented of your sin and given your life to Jesus. Our walk of love is an ongoing process that we have to consciously put effort into. Our Christian walk is our responsibility to work out by following Jesus in obedience to the Word and being led by the Holy Spirit. We are called to be like Jesus!
Paul exhorts us to work out our salvation with fear and trembling!
Jesus also tells us how we are to begin our Christian walk of love in the below verse.
So, our first command from Jesus is to love God with all are very being – our heart, soul and mind!
Our second command from Jesus is to love our neighbour as ourselves!
The whole law depends on these two commands and Jesus is the fulfilment of the Law and the writings of the Old Testament prophets. Jesus was without sin, and this is why he gave himself up on the Cross so that by believing in Him we are saved and receive eternal life and love from God.
What does God’s agapē love look like so that we can emulate it in our lives?
In 1 Corinthians 13 the Apostle Paul tells us exactly what the agapē love of God is and what it looks like.
This is the love God has for us as His children and this is the love that we should be showing to others, especially our brothers and sisters in Christ. This is how we imitate Christ as we go about our daily lives – our lifestyles expressing the love of Jesus to the world!
The love of God has to permeate our whole lives. The love of God not only transforms our lives, but as we show His love to others it will transform theirs too!
Paul encourages us to follow the way of love in 1 Corinthians 14. He tells us that the way to follow the way of love is to eagerly desire the spiritual gifts.
When we as His children are using the gifts of the Spirit in the love of God, the Church both as individuals and corporately, will benefit as His love flows through the use of the Gifts by the power of the Holy Spirit.
The Apostle John tells us that if we don’t love each other in this way then we do not know, and love God and we are only fooling ourselves. When we pursue God’s love, we take on an enduring attribute of His very nature for God is the originator of love!
In Colossians 3, we are to clothe ourselves with the virtues of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. These virtues will come to us naturally when we are enveloped with the love of God as the verse tells us to put on God’s love as it is His love that binds these virtues together. We are also told to forgive each other as the Lord forgave us. Forgive your grievance against your brother or sister!
The Apostle Peter also exhorts us to show God’s love one to another as it covers a multitude of sins.
When we embrace the love of God, when we speak the truth in love and when we let it permeate our lives, then we will grow in every respect into a mature Christian and into a mature Church!
And as a fitting end to this little article let us always remember these words form our Lord Jesus himself.
Be doers of the Word and not just readers!
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father
I pray right now, dear Lord, that you would help me to embrace and be enveloped in your agape love that I may imitate Jesus in every way. Lead me by your Holy Spirit, I pray, to eagerly desire the spiritual gifts that I may bring glory to your name and be a blessing to your Church. Help me to be a doer of the Word, not just a reader and help me to forgive and love others as you forgave and love me. Amen.
Where do we, as born-again Christians, begin and progress in our walk of love?
Well, this one is easy! Right at the very beginning of your Christian walk, as soon as you have repented of your sin and given your life to Jesus. Our walk of love is an ongoing process that we have to consciously put effort into. Our Christian walk is our responsibility to work out by following Jesus in obedience to the Word and being led by the Holy Spirit. We are called to be like Jesus!
Paul exhorts us to work out our salvation with fear and trembling!
2 Philippians 2:12 (AMP)
So then, my dear ones, just as you have always obeyed [my instructions with enthusiasm], not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence, continue to work out your salvation [that is, cultivate it, bring it to full effect, actively pursue spiritual maturity] with awe-inspired fear and trembling [using serious caution and critical self-evaluation to avoid anything that might offend God or discredit the name of Christ].
Jesus also tells us how we are to begin our Christian walk of love in the below verse.
Mathew 22:37-39 (AMP)
37 And Jesus replied to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself [that is, unselfishly seek the best or higher good for others].’ 40 The whole Law and the [writings of the] Prophets depend on these two commandments.”
So, our first command from Jesus is to love God with all are very being – our heart, soul and mind!
Our second command from Jesus is to love our neighbour as ourselves!
The whole law depends on these two commands and Jesus is the fulfilment of the Law and the writings of the Old Testament prophets. Jesus was without sin, and this is why he gave himself up on the Cross so that by believing in Him we are saved and receive eternal life and love from God.
Matthew 5:17-18 (NIV)
17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.
2 Corinthians 5:21 (NIV)
God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
John 3:16 (AMP)
For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the world, that He [even] gave His [One and] only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him [as Savior] shall not perish, but have eternal life.
What does God’s agapē love look like so that we can emulate it in our lives?
In 1 Corinthians 13 the Apostle Paul tells us exactly what the agapē love of God is and what it looks like.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8b (AMP)
4 Love endures with patience and serenity, love is kind and thoughtful, and is not jealous or envious; love does not brag and is not proud or arrogant. 5 It is not rude; it is not self-seeking, it is not provoked [nor overly sensitive and easily angered]; it does not take into account a wrong endured. 6 It does not rejoice at injustice, but rejoices with the truth [when right and truth prevail]. 7 Love bears all things [regardless of what comes], believes all things [looking for the best in each one], hopes all things [remaining steadfast during difficult times], endures all things [without weakening].
8 Love never fails [it never fades nor ends].
This is the love God has for us as His children and this is the love that we should be showing to others, especially our brothers and sisters in Christ. This is how we imitate Christ as we go about our daily lives – our lifestyles expressing the love of Jesus to the world!
Ephesians 5:1-2 (NLT)
Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. 2 Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.
The love of God has to permeate our whole lives. The love of God not only transforms our lives, but as we show His love to others it will transform theirs too!
Paul encourages us to follow the way of love in 1 Corinthians 14. He tells us that the way to follow the way of love is to eagerly desire the spiritual gifts.
1 Corinthians 14:1 (AMP)
Pursue [this] love [with eagerness, make it your goal], yet earnestly desire and cultivate the spiritual gifts [to be used by believers for the benefit of the church], but especially that you may prophesy [to foretell the future, to speak a new message from God to the people].
When we as His children are using the gifts of the Spirit in the love of God, the Church both as individuals and corporately, will benefit as His love flows through the use of the Gifts by the power of the Holy Spirit.
The gifts of the Spirit will flow freely when the Church has fully embraced and is enveloped in the agapē love of God and is being led by the power of the Holy Spirit in all things and in all truth!
The Apostle John tells us that if we don’t love each other in this way then we do not know, and love God and we are only fooling ourselves. When we pursue God’s love, we take on an enduring attribute of His very nature for God is the originator of love!
1 John 4:8 (AMP)
The one who does not love has not become acquainted with God [does not and never did know Him], for God is love. [He is the originator of love, and it is an enduring attribute of His nature.]
In Colossians 3, we are to clothe ourselves with the virtues of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. These virtues will come to us naturally when we are enveloped with the love of God as the verse tells us to put on God’s love as it is His love that binds these virtues together. We are also told to forgive each other as the Lord forgave us. Forgive your grievance against your brother or sister!
Colossians 3:12-14 (NIV)
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
The Apostle Peter also exhorts us to show God’s love one to another as it covers a multitude of sins.
1 Peter 4:8 (AMP)
Above all, have fervent and unfailing love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins [it overlooks unkindness and unselfishly seeks the best for others].
When we embrace the love of God, when we speak the truth in love and when we let it permeate our lives, then we will grow in every respect into a mature Christian and into a mature Church!
Ephesians 4:15
Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.
And as a fitting end to this little article let us always remember these words form our Lord Jesus himself.
John 14:15
If you love me, keep my commands.
Be doers of the Word and not just readers!
James 1:19-25 (NIV) – brackets are mine.
19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. 21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law (Jesus) that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father
I pray right now, dear Lord, that you would help me to embrace and be enveloped in your agape love that I may imitate Jesus in every way. Lead me by your Holy Spirit, I pray, to eagerly desire the spiritual gifts that I may bring glory to your name and be a blessing to your Church. Help me to be a doer of the Word, not just a reader and help me to forgive and love others as you forgave and love me. Amen.
To Jesus belongs all glory, honour and praise!
Jesus the Name above all names!
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