Messy Love: Embracing the Call to Love
Embracing The Call To Love: The Unconditional Love of Jesus
The concept of love, with all its complexities and nuances, has been a subject of exploration and discussion through the ages. Yet, one of the most profound and transformative discussions on love comes from the teachings of Jesus Christ.
His perspective on love was revolutionary during the time and continues to challenge and inspire individuals and societies today. Jesus' teachings on love were not abstract concepts but practical instructions meant to be lived out in the daily interactions of life.
Through His words and actions, Jesus illustrated love's power to change hearts, build bridges, and heal wounds. His teachings remain relevant as they address the core of human relationships and the essence of what it means to live a life marked by love.
Loving the Least, the Lost, and Across Cultures
Loving those who are often overlooked or marginalized is a powerful testament to the love Jesus demonstrated. He showed us through His actions and teachings that every person has value and worth, regardless of their social status, past mistakes, or cultural background. In Matthew 25:35-40, Jesus talks about serving the 'least of these' and equating such service to serving Him directly. This includes feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, and visiting the sick and those in prison.
Love the Least: Jesus emphasized loving and caring for those society often ignores. This includes the poor, marginalized, and those without a voice. As followers of Christ, we are called to extend His love and grace to everyone, especially those in need.
Love the Lost: Jesus's heart for the lost is evident throughout the Gospels. He reached out to sinners, tax collectors, and those living on the fringes of society. 10 "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Luke 19:10 tells us that Jesus came to seek and save the lost, reminding us of our mission to bring the good news of God's love to everyone.
Love Across Cultures: Jesus broke cultural barriers and showed love to all, regardless of their background. The story of the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4:1–42) is a powerful example of how Jesus reached across cultural divides to offer love and salvation.
By loving the least, the lost, and across cultures, we embody the unconditional love Jesus showed. This love challenges prejudices, breaks down barriers, and heals wounds, demonstrating the kingdom of God on earth.
The Church's Role in Demonstrating Love
The church, as the body of Christ, plays a pivotal role in demonstrating love, embodying the essence of Jesus's commandments to love God and our neighbors (Matthew 22:36–40). This foundational principle serves as the cornerstone for Christian practice and outreach, guiding the church in its mission to reflect Christ's love to the world.
Modeling Unconditional Love
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." John 13:34 Jesus’s teaching of loving others as He has loved us sets a high standard for the church. It calls for a love that is unconditional, not based on merit or return.
Embracing Sacrificial Love
The church is also called to demonstrate sacrificial love, as Jesus did. This is vividly captured in John 15:13, "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends," where laying down one's life for friends epitomizes the ultimate sacrifice. Through community service, outreach, and personal sacrifices for the benefit of others, the church can live out this aspect of love.
Loving Beyond Boundaries
Moreover, the church must transcend societal and cultural boundaries to love inclusively. Jesus associated with those marginalized by society, showing that His love knows no bounds. Similarly, the church is tasked with reaching out to all groups, irrespective of their social, economic, or moral status.
Forgiving and Praying for Enemies
The church embodies love by forgiving and praying for enemies, as Jesus instructed in Matthew 5:44, "But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you," This radical love challenges the church to see beyond human faults and to recognize the image of God in everyone.
In fulfilling these aspects of love, the church not only adheres to Jesus's teachings but also sets a transformative example for the world to follow.
Letting Go and Choosing to Love
In Matthew 18:21–22, Peter asks Jesus how many times he should forgive someone who sins against him, to which Jesus responds, "Not seven times, but seventy-seven times." This teaches us the depth of forgiveness we are called to extend to others. But how do we practically walk in this love and forgiveness?
Practicing Empathy: Try to understand where the other person is coming from. Remember that hurt people hurt people. Understanding their pain can help you find the compassion needed to forgive.
Seeking God's Strength: Recognize that loving others in the way Jesus calls us to is not something we can do in our own strength. Pray for God's love to fill you and flow through you to others.
Choosing Forgiveness: Forgiveness is a choice, not a feeling. Decide to forgive, even when emotions tell you otherwise. This decision can lead to emotional healing over time.
Showing Love through Actions: Love is not just a feeling; it's an action. Look for practical ways to show God's love to others, even those who have wronged you. This could be as simple as a kind word, a gesture of support, or an act of service.
Letting go and choosing to love is a process, often a difficult one, but it's a journey worth taking. As we make this choice, we reflect the heart of God to a world in desperate need of His love and grace. It's in this messy, challenging, yet beautiful process of loving others that we find the true essence of what it means to follow Jesus.
Allowing God's Love to Flow
To truly love others, we must tap into God's endless supply of love. Attempting to love with our limited resources often leads to frustration and burnout. When we connect to the God who is love, as stated in 1 John 4:16, "And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them."
We access a love that can love unconditionally, generously, and completely. This divine love enables us to see and love people as Jesus does, even those who are challenging to love. By surrendering to God and asking Him to love through us, we become conduits of His love, transforming our relationships and environments.
