Where is the Love?
Do you remember the popular song "Where is the Love" by the Black Eyed Peas?
I always liked that song. It had a very catchy tune, with captive lyrics that
posed a lot of meaningful questions. Now,
years later, I can still see myself asking that same question. I look at the
world’s view of Christ's church, and I can
almost picture them asking us that same question. Where is the Love? We have
professing followers not showing Christ's love toward others. In my own life, I
can see the constant struggle to love others. Yet, the way we approach the lost
is how we reflect God's love. We are not called to be the moral police to the
lost. We are called to show God's love to others. Look how Jesus responds to
the Jewish religious leaders when asked which of the commandments was the
greatest.
Matthew 22:37-39
37 Jesus replied: "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 And the second is like it:
‘Love your neighbor as yourself."
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+22%3A37-39&version=NIV
Love. Love the Lord your God, and then love your neighbor. He goes on to say that all the law and the prophets depend on these 2 commandments. We, as God's people, who have been credited righteousness through faith in His son, are called to love others. The only way to reach our fallen world is to be an example of Christ's love to the lost. What does it mean to be a light in the darkness? Show Christ's love! How do I become a beacon to the lost? Share Christ's love! Let's overcome the world by strengthening in the power of God's love. Put down the picket signs, stop the protest. The lost are not held to the standard of believers. They do not yet have the power to overcome sin and death. This only comes through the grace of God. Why judge those who are slaves to sin? We are to love those who are slaves to sin. How will they know Christ's love if we do not show it to them?
We are also called to love each other as believers. This is the motive/purpose of discipleship. You cannot make disciples apart from love. If you do not love the brother/sister who you are discipling, are you truly investing in their lives? To disciple is to help those grow closer to God's Love, and then teach them how to share God's Love with others. We are also to love our brothers/sisters in Christ enough to confront sin in their lives and help those who are struggling. We are family, a united body in Christ, with love as the veins that run the blood of Jesus through us as our life source.
Where is the Love? I know where the love comes from. A true love for others only comes from God. He is the source of all love. I personally have to pray earnestly for God to give me a love for others. God will provide the love for others in your life. The Holy Spirit is with those who believe to help guide them in sharing God's love.
Love is an action! It is not a emotion, but a devotion. Be active in love. Feed those who are hungry. Show grace to those who have harmed you or your family. Be caring to those who you disagree with. Have a love for the lost! Help your brother/sister who is struggling. Humbly rebuke those entrapped in sin. Invest in others and share life. Love your fellow believers!
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+22%3A37-39&version=NIV
Love. Love the Lord your God, and then love your neighbor. He goes on to say that all the law and the prophets depend on these 2 commandments. We, as God's people, who have been credited righteousness through faith in His son, are called to love others. The only way to reach our fallen world is to be an example of Christ's love to the lost. What does it mean to be a light in the darkness? Show Christ's love! How do I become a beacon to the lost? Share Christ's love! Let's overcome the world by strengthening in the power of God's love. Put down the picket signs, stop the protest. The lost are not held to the standard of believers. They do not yet have the power to overcome sin and death. This only comes through the grace of God. Why judge those who are slaves to sin? We are to love those who are slaves to sin. How will they know Christ's love if we do not show it to them?
We are also called to love each other as believers. This is the motive/purpose of discipleship. You cannot make disciples apart from love. If you do not love the brother/sister who you are discipling, are you truly investing in their lives? To disciple is to help those grow closer to God's Love, and then teach them how to share God's Love with others. We are also to love our brothers/sisters in Christ enough to confront sin in their lives and help those who are struggling. We are family, a united body in Christ, with love as the veins that run the blood of Jesus through us as our life source.
Where is the Love? I know where the love comes from. A true love for others only comes from God. He is the source of all love. I personally have to pray earnestly for God to give me a love for others. God will provide the love for others in your life. The Holy Spirit is with those who believe to help guide them in sharing God's love.
Love is an action! It is not a emotion, but a devotion. Be active in love. Feed those who are hungry. Show grace to those who have harmed you or your family. Be caring to those who you disagree with. Have a love for the lost! Help your brother/sister who is struggling. Humbly rebuke those entrapped in sin. Invest in others and share life. Love your fellow believers!
1 Corinthians 13:1-3
13 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. 2 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. 3 If I give all I possess to the
poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not
have love, I gain nothing.
