Love Like Jesus Loves Series

Some of us can say “Amen” to the following statement: “To live above with saints we love; oh, that will be glory. But to live below with saints we know; well, that’s a different story!”

My guess is there were differences and disagreements among the disciples. Peter’s brash personality probably irritated those on the team. I wonder how his brother Andrew felt when Peter, James and John got extra time with Jesus? We know the other disciples got jealous when James and John angled for the top spots in Jesus’ cabinet.

I can’t imagine the tension between Simon the Zealot and Matthew the tax collector. While Simon was part of a radical political party that used force to achieve its goal of liberating Israel from Roman rule, Matthew worked for Rome and collected taxes from the Israelites, lining his own pockets in the process. While they had natural conflict because of their politics, they had Christ in common, and they were learning how to love one another like Jesus loved each of them.

Tertullian lived in the third century when opposition to Christianity was intense. Listen to what he wrote about how pagans viewed Christians: “It is mainly the deeds of a love so noble that lead many to put a brand upon us. ‘See,’ they say…how they love one another…how they are even ready to die for one another.” One heathen said this about Christians: “They love one another almost before they know one another.”

George Whitefield and Charles Wesley had significant theological differences which led to major conflict and heated conversations. One day a friend of Whitefield’s asked, “Do you think we, when we get to heaven, shall see John Wesley there?” Whitefield quickly answered, “No, I do not think we shall.” His friend was delighted with the answer until Whitefield continued, “I believe Mr. John Wesley will have a place so near the throne of God, that such poor creatures as you and I will be so far off as to be hardly able to see him.” Whitefield loved Wesley even though he thought he was wrong. He lived this truth: A disciple is one who loves like Jesus loves.

I’m reminded of the famous line from Augustine, which Pastor Brown often quoted: “In essentials, unity. In non-essentials, liberty. In all things, charity.”

Here’s a question. Is there enough evidence of your love for fellow believers for someone to conclude you are a follower of Jesus?

• Let’s live out the mandate to love.

• Let’s follow the model of love.

• Let’s demonstrate a manifestation through love.

Loving the Little, the Least and the Lost

The Bible makes it clear we are to love like Jesus loves, which means we’re to love the little, the least, and the lost. Listen to what Jesus says in Matthew 19:14: “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” And Matthew 25:40: “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.”

Recently, The Guardian newspaper from the UK ran a story exploring the greatest photo of the 20th Century. Think of the wide choice before them. Perhaps it would be a picture of something from politics or sports? An action shot from one of our world wars? Maybe man walking on the moon? According to them, the greatest picture in 100 years is of a preborn baby moving in the womb!