It struck me the other day that we sing an awful lot about Jesus being everything, that it’s all about Jesus. And let’s face it they are both excellent sentiments but do they tell the whole story? I mean I know we should give our entire heart to Jesus and He should be our main focus, but is it really all about Jesus? Didn’t Jesus Himself say that we needed to love others as much as we love ourselves?
Could it be that in the act of sacrificially loving others we meet and learn to love Jesus on a whole new level? It seems that focusing on Jesus can be an excuse to ignore the plight of our fellow travellers while still convincing ourselves that we are ‘right with God’.
Maybe when we truly live all for Jesus we will find that our love for fellow man increases, but let’s not be naive – it will take some action on our part. If following Jesus doesn’t change the world or at least benefit everyone, including those who don’t believe, then what’s the point? I know we must prioritise Jesus, but if that doesn’t inspire us to love others then perhaps we need to take another look at the Jesus we have prioritised? Maybe this year living for Jesus can mean living for others too?
Matthew 22: 37-39 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Tim Maundrell said:
May be we need to start finding the face of Jesus in the face of our fellow man…”what ever you did not do for the least of these, you did not do for me…”
Nick said:
Or “The man who says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.’
Anthony Baker said:
Excellent point! Sorta like “love without works is dead,” isn’t it?
Nick said:
Yeah, perhaps a slightly naughty title but I think the point still stands.
Gary said:
There are to many churches that focus on Jesus(right) but are not carrying out the actions. real Christian will Want to put Jesus word into action and try to live the life Jesus Lived!. Check out The Stephen Curtis Chapman song: What Now.
Nick said:
Thanks – I’d not heard that song before!
eudoranachand said:
Love the concept. Makes good sense.
Jesus said, A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. ~ John 13:34
He had never come in the flesh before this to give this new commandment.
Or had He? Doesn’t Leviticus 19:18 say Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.
The difference is this: Leviticus says ‘as yourself ‘; Jesus says, “In the same way that I have loved you,” which presupposes that God’s way of loving can be ours too.
Humanly this is impossible, but Jesus gives us a new nature, a new spirit, God’s spirit with in us. Christ in us the hope of glory. This is how we can love as God loves, God’s way makes the impossible… possible.
I have come to learn that every humankind is a potential child of God that has yet to be manifested. Didn’t Peter tell us, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” ~ 2 Pe 3:9
If it is God’s desire that none perish, then I would say that everyone who has already repented is His and those who haven’t yet are part of the ‘none’ that Peter mentions.
Just because one hasn’t repented doesn’t mean that God has not included them in His plan. He isn’t finished yet.
So once I let this settle in my heart, it isn’t hard at all to love everyone because it just might be that I am loving one of those ‘none’s’ who just might see His light in me and maybe just maybe, they are my future brother or sister in the Kingdom of God after all.
Many blessings brother… ~ Eudora
Nick said:
Thanks for your comment. I certainly need Jesus help to love some people!
Jon Butler said:
What a way to start 2012. New Years Resolution?
Great thoughts here Nick, though the challenge to us all really does come from trying to live out our Christian faith. As we live following Christ it means we should live and love like him, though with His help.
I’m glad you not only drew attention to the difficulty of the acts of loving others but also by asking ‘If following Jesus doesn’t change the world…what’s the point?’.
Let’s get loving!