Characterized by Love
“We love because he first loved us.” 1 John 4:19
Christianity is characterized by love. When asked, “What is the greatest commandment, “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.’” (Matthew 22:37-39)
Christianity is based on love, but it doesn’t start with our love for God; it starts with his love for us. The Bible says: “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” (1 John 4:10)
That’s it: God loved us and so we ought to love him and our fellow human beings. We show our love for God by obeying his commands and He calls us to be people of love, which means:
Love for God. That’s the first thing: Love God with total devotion.
Next comes love for our Christian brothers and sisters. Jesus said, “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35) Love for one another is our greatest testimony for the kingdom of God.
Then we’re to love our neighbors. Not just the ones who are nice and neighborly, but everyone we live near, or work with, or interact with. Everyone.
We’re even told to love our enemies. Jesus said: “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:43-45a)
Jesus calls us to a higher standard. He calls us to be people characterized by love—God’s love. That’s how we will change our world for the better.
Is love at the center of your Christianity?
Having begun as a guest speaker in 2005, Dan was appointed Interim Pastor in 2008 and has been serving Maple Root Baptist ever since. As a small group leader and Chaplin for the Connecticut Tigers, Dan has a heart for the lost and the God that saves them.