I have a confession to make. After claiming to have known Jesus for over forty years, I now question that claim. Oh, it’s nothing serious — but maybe it is.
You see, John wrote: “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves God has been born of God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.” (1 John 4:7-8)
If I claim to have a relationship with God, I should love others Just like Jesus loved. That means I should live a life of complete forgiveness because true love demands it. God’s love has no place for holding grudges of any kind toward anyone.
Love also demands that I accept everyone for who they are. Even if their behavior is unacceptable to me, I must love and accept them for who they are – in spite of their unacceptable behavior. Even if their behavior does not change, I need to love.
By the example of Jesus, love demands that I give till I die. My giving is not to be limited to money, but time, energy, and myself.
Really, this love thing should not be taken too far. How much can one give? If you keep giving like that, it can only lead to death.
And that’s what Jesus did.
Your Turn
Join the discussion and add your thoughts. What have you learned?
Please share briefly in the comments section on the website barnabas.in
—————
Alexi George is a pastor, teacher, and writer. He is devoted to helping people live their potential.
* For a Malayalam language summary of this post, visit my Facebook page.
* If you enjoyed reading this post, please share it with others who may benefit from reading this.
* For a list of books that I’ve recently read, here is my Reading List.
Leave a Reply