CALLED TO LOVE…
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this, all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” – John 13:34-35
Jesus loves everyone. Every single one of us. Each human on this earth is known & loved by God.
Jesus loved poor people, thieves, diseased people, and prostitutes. He loved people who followed Him and those who shunned Him.
Because He loves us, we are called to love as He does. “Love one another.” Is it easy? No. But, He has called us to love, which means we are capable of doing so. Even if we have been hurt. Even if we have been lied to or mistreated. Loving may look like forgiving someone, or accepting or honoring them even though it may seem difficult.
People don’t naturally love with a 1 Corinthians 13 kind of love. To love like that, there must be a change of heart. We must realize that we are sinners before God and understand that Christ died on the cross to provide us forgiveness. It is when we make the decision to accept Jesus as our personal Savior that we fully know that genuine love He has for us. The new life includes a new capacity to love as Christ loves.
Loving like Jesus does not happen by our own will. We can only love like He loves when we are full of His unconditional love.
Love & Light,
About today’s guest writer: Vanessa Warren has a passion not only for reading God’s Word but learning to live it out day by day. You can find her at Kelli & Vanessa where she and her friend, Kelli, encourage women to live lives that write a beautiful story. You can also find Vanessa at Awaken Movement where she is the U.S. Operations Director. Vanessa’s favorite role though is that of wife, to her husband Mark, and mom to her two children, Stella and Noah.
God has called ordinary people to do His extraordinary works, to love an unloveable world as He loves us at our most unloveable moments. It’s not a choice as you said Vanessa in this amazing post, it’s a commandment that should shine forth the closer we get to God. It’s definitely not something I can do on my own, but I will also benefit greatly from it too!!
We all have one common bond…..we are all sinners in need of a Savoir. So no matter what we are in now, coming out of, lived or are living this remains the same……we love because He loved us.
Love is the foundation upon which Christian faith is built. God loved us and gave us his son. Two major commands from God:we must love God with all our strength, mind and heart; we must love others as ourselves.
Of all spiritual gifts, love is the greatest that should be coveted.
To love is therefore not just a command or choice but as Christians, love is a lifestyle.
Thanks for sharing this great post Vanessa! <3
A close relationship with God is possible for everyone.
Regardless of your past circumstances and mistakes, there is always a chance for you to develop a relationship with the Creator.
Please read my blog: 4 Ways to Develop a Close Relationship with God
Hope this will also help. Thank you and God Bless you..