What is love? When someone says, “I love you,” what is that
saying to you? When a brother or sister in Christ says to you, “I love you,”
what do you believe that should mean? And, what does it say to you when they
say it but their actions speak just the opposite? Lastly, what do the
scriptures say about how we are to love one another?
Philippians 2:1-4 ESV
“So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”
To Encourage
What does it mean to encourage someone? It means to inspire,
stimulate, motivate, arouse, uplift, cheer, comfort, support, hearten,
reassure, advise, admonish, insist, exhort (urge strongly), appeal, incite, and
to persuade.
And, these are all the many ways in which Jesus Christ
encourages his own, too. For, encouragement is not all fluff. It is not all
pats on the back saying everything is going to be ok. Sometimes it means that
we have to say the hard stuff, too. And, it isn’t always going to make us feel
good inside, either.
But, encouragement needs to come from hearts which are
united with Jesus Christ and with his mind (his thinking), with his heart for
people, and with his compassion and sympathy, too. And, it needs to not
come from selfishness, but from a pure heart which truly cares about others
above our own selves, and above our own self-interests.
For many people feel they are being encouraging when they
tell others what they think will make them feel good, whether what they tell
them is the truth or not. But, lies are never kind. And, they help no one. We
need to speak the truth, but to do so with God-like love for one another.
Encouragement in Christ, thus, is selfless. It thinks about
what is truly best for other people based upon what Jesus Christ considers is
best for us, not what humans determine is best. For humans are prone to think
with the flesh rather than with the mind of Christ. So, we need the counsel of
God in our own lives before we can encourage others with his counsel and
comfort.
Comfort and Love
As well, this word translated “comfort” has the same meaning
as that of “encouragement.” And, if it comes from God’s love, then it also
prefers what is holy, pure, righteous, kind, considerate, honest, fair, just, and
moral, etc.
And, it will consider others above ourselves, too, but with
the mind of Christ and his heart, not with minds and hearts of the flesh. And,
it will not do anything to harm another, either, i.e. it will not be mean-spirited,
spiteful, dishonest, back-biting, cursing, unjust, thoughtless, careless, or
selfish.
For, to love others as Jesus loved us, is to first of all be
united in mind with Christ and with the way in which he loves us. It is to
consider first what he values as important. It is to regard others’ legitimate
needs above our own, and above our own reputations, too.
True love also looks out for what is in others’ best
interest, i.e. for what is for their best, i.e. for what is God’s best for
them, not what we think is best for them in our own fleshly reasoning.
Participants in the
Spirit
So, the only way in which we can love others with this kind
of love is that first of all we need to be participants in the Spirit of God.
This means that we take part in and join in with the Spirit of God and with his
working in our own hearts and minds in conforming us to the likeness of Christ.
And, we do this through God-given faith in Jesus Christ
which submits to his Lordship (ownership) over our lives and which follows him
daily in obedience to his will and to his ways which he designed for us to
follow.
For, if we are going it in the flesh, doing things our way,
thinking with the flesh and from hearts given over to our own selfish desires,
there is no way we are going to have the mind of Christ or his love for others
or his compassion.
Instead we will think with fleshly minds and we may end up
even encouraging what is evil and fighting against what is truly good; supporting
those who do evil and yet attacking those who truly are doing good.
Also, we have to be surrendered to Jesus Christ, daily
giving our lives over to him, dying to sin and self, and following his lead. For,
if we don’t love God, then we cannot truly love one another (1 Jn. 4:20-21; 1
Jn. 5:2).
Philippians 2:5-11
ESV
“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Love is humble
True love is humble, too. It does not demand or insist on
its own way. It is not self-seeking. It does not trade tit-for-tat. It is
patient. It is kind. It is not arrogant or boastful. It is not rude. It does
not malign others. It is not easily angered. It is not irritable or resentful. And,
it does not delight (rejoice) in evil (wrongdoing), but it rejoices with the
truth (1 Co. 13:4-6 ESV/NIV).
Love also serves one another out of a pure heart. It cares
about others and what they are going through. It takes interest in their lives.
It listens to what they say (with the heart, and not just with the ears). And,
it responds with the wisdom of God and a heart of love and compassion. It looks
beyond what lies on the surface or how things may appear, and it asks for the
mind and heart of God to see others as HE sees them.
And, it is obedient to Jesus Christ even to death. For, if
we love our lives more than we love God, then we don’t love God, and we are not
called according to his purposes. If we obey the Lord, we do what his Word
teaches us we must do, and we don’t make up our own rules or follow our own
reasoning, but we ask for the wisdom (the mind) of God before we act.
Love submits to God and to his purposes. It follows Jesus
and his ways. It asks to be led of the Spirit of God and to know the Lord’s
will. It wants to know the truth and to follow what is true, and to not follow
after the lies. It repents of all sin and forsakes all idols, and it removes
from one’s life all hindrances to faithful obedience to Christ.
And, it no longer loves the world of sin, for we can’t love
God and love sin, too. But, it lives separate (unlike, different) from the
world unto God, and it walks in his holiness and righteousness, living to
please him, not self, and not other people, but only as is pleasing to God.
A
Believer’s Prayer
An
Original Work / July 31, 2012
With my whole heart, Lord, I pray
To be Yours, and Yours always.
Lead me in Your truth today.
May I love You, and obey.
Lead me in Your righteousness.
When I sin, may I confess;
Bow before You when I pray;
Live for You and You always.
Love You, Jesus, You’re my friend.
Life with You will never end.
You are with me through each day,
Giving love and peace always.
You will ne’er abandon me.
From my sin You set me free.
You died on that cruel tree,
So I’d live eternally.
Soon You’re coming back for me;
From this world to set me free;
Live with You eternally.
Oh, what joy that brings to me.
I will walk with You in white;
A pure bride, I’ve been made right
By the blood of Jesus Christ;
Pardoned by His sacrifice.
Tuesday, January 22, 2019
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