June 16

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”  — JOHN 13:34

Love is the truest expression of the Christian life, but for many of us, it is the area we lack the most in. With the hectic pace and pressures of today, we can become so preoccupied with our own world that we fail to love one another. 

Love is absolutely fundamental to the working of God in our lives; so much so, that anything done without love negates the purpose and validity of it. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 13:1-3, “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor, and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.”  

In the Greek translation of the Bible, the word ‘love’ is used in three different ways. “Eros” is used for romantic love. The word ‘phileo’ is to have warm affection and friendship towards one another, and ‘agape’ speaks of the love of God, which is the highest love; one that is freely given and does not depend on being reciprocated. We find one of the best definitions of ‘agape’ love in Philippians 2:3 where Paul writes, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves” (NAS). This is a love that puts the needs of others first, is conceived in humility, and born of the Spirit of Christ.

The ultimate expression of love is godliness, and that is because God is love. Love is the fruit of the Spirit, which Christ is intent on producing in us. The effectiveness of our service in Christ is not measured by the fact we have programs and strategies in place, money contributed to worthy causes or serve in mission fields. It is measured by the fact we do these things in love for others, and people are not becoming the beneficiaries of a hundred dollar cheque, a new coat or a hot meal as much as they are becoming the beneficiaries of Christ’s love. Jesus loved everyone, and it is His love in us that must flow through us to touch and transform the lives of those around us.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Thank You for all the love You have shown me. I pray for your ‘agape’ love to grow and flourish in me so that I may always extend it to others. 

TO REFLECT UPON: Am I extending Christ’s love in me by putting others before myself?