Loving the people we like is easy. Loving everyone regardless of their choices, opposing lifestyles and sins is far more difficult. However, that’s exactly what God did for us. And He calls each and every one of us to have the same kind of love for others that He does. Kevin Groves of Hope in the Morning shares some thoughts today on what it looks like to have that God-like love.
THE BIBLE ON GOD-LIKE LOVE
Years ago I wrote a Christmas song about God’s love for us and how he showed it by sending Jesus. The title was “No Way To Explain.” And that really sums it up today.
If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 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 do not have love, I am nothing.
I think most people want to be encouraging if given the opportunity. We tell others of their value and great abilities and amazing potential. All of us want to feel ‘worth’ something. No one ever wants to feel like ‘nothing.’ And yet, if we’re not loving others unconditionally, that’s what we are… nothing.
It sounds harsh, but Love is that big of a deal. 1 Corinthians 13 says no matter what we do or think we are, without Godly love in us, we’re nothing.
WHAT DOES GOD-LIKE LOVE LOOK LIKE?
But what is God-like love? It’s unconditional love, called ‘agape’ in Greek, and it’s a one way street. It’s loving someone simply because they exist, like God does. It doesn’t mean we like or agree with everything they do or believe. It’s loving someone without conditions, prejudice, assumption, expectation, like God does.
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For God so loved the world… because the world is good? Nope. How about, for God so loved the world because they dressed nice? Or, for God so loved the world because of their wonderful deeds? Not hardly. He loves us, and that’s it. No attachments, addendums, stipulations. His love is unconditional.
THE GREATEST EXAMPLE OF LOVE
To go to heaven one day, we must believe that Jesus died to pay for our sins. But to be loved by God, you simply exist. His greatest example of unconditional love was sending Jesus to die without any guarantee we’d accept that gift. He loves us all the way to the cross, and then from there all the way to heaven.
