The first letter of John tells the early Christians that love is the most important thing and that if we can’t love our brothers who we see, then there is no way we can love God. That’s a pretty strong and harsh statement, but we have the example of Christ himself to back up what John says and to show us the way.
Jesus showed us through his life and death what it means to really love. We get so carried away with the things around us that we forget how simple love really is. Simple, yet hard. To respect and appreciate the people who touch our lives isn’t always easy. We get critical and get our feelings hurt and back away from the very people God has sent into our lives to show us how to be better at growing in the kind of love he asks of us.
We can’t seem to realize that the ways Jesus lived in patience, kindness, unselfishness, all the basic things that make people loving are the things that also will make us the happiest. The love we give comes back to us in many ways from acceptance, to feeling loved, to gaining respect.
How hard it is to get beyond ourselves and our own wants. “Me first” is the thing we hold onto. My hurts need to be tended to before I can reach to others. It wasn’t that way with Jesus. He thought of all of us, even though we turned away from him.
Even when he was dying on the cross he thought of others. He comforted the thief who was hung beside him and told him he would be with him in paradise. He gave unconditional love to anyone who would accept it. He took Peter back when he denied him at the most important time in his life…the time he could have most appreciated Peter’s sticking up for him. He would have even taken Judas back if he had turned to him and asked forgiveness.
When we follow Jesus as closely as we can, we grow into the kind of love that is given without strings attached. We learn patience and kindness. Our feelings aren’t as easily hurt, leading to angry words. The grace to live a better, more giving life becomes a reality.
Love as Shown by The Master
The life of Jesus gives us a prime example of what love is.
Published by smokychristine in Christianity on March 3, 2013 | 5 responses4
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“unconditional love…”
true love
Thanks for a very good article, the Pharisees questioned Jesus about eating with the publicans and sinners different times. Jesus never judged one because of sin or bad deeds, but It was to those very people that needed Jesus most and He was there for them with that love you spoke about…even that thief, as you said! Good share.
I really enjoyed this article , i admit there are times I forget to love, but i still try to think of everybody as if they they were Jesus themselves. It is hard sometimes, but if Mother Theresa can do it I will try my hardest.
Yes, truly the love of Christ is divine and selfless.