What is Christian love?

[arunangelo]

What is Christian love?

Christianity is more than just keeping the commandments or avoiding what is wrong or sinful or following the written words. It is about living God’s life of sacrificial and all-forgiving love. Therefore, it is not about doing the minimum requirements; rather, it is to go out of our way and give of our self completely to love and serve others, including, those who hurt and offend us.

Since true love is unconditional and selfless, true love goes beyond friends and relatives. Jesus tells us to (Luke 6:27-35) love our enemies, do good deeds to those who hate us, bless those who curse us, and pray for those who mistreat us. If anyone slaps us on one cheek, we must let him hit the other one too. We must lend expecting nothing back. We must give to everyone who asks for something. We must never divorce our spouse (Mark 10:11-12) and be merciful, just as our Father is merciful (Luke 6: 35-36). If someone takes us to court to sue us for our shirt, we must let him have our coat as well. We must walk an additional mile if the occupation forces ask us to carry their pack for one mile (Matt 5; 39-41). If anyone borrows something from us we must not ask for it back (Luke 6:27-30). We must be willing to lay down our life for others, including for those who cause us grave hurt; just as God in His Divine mercy sacrificed His life for those who hurt and killed Him.

 

[jari]

Amen.

And only with God's love we can love perfectly, our own effort always falls short, from God's love.

O my soul, thou hast said unto the LORD, Thou art my Lord: my goodness extendeth not to thee;
- (Psa 16:2)

 

[Whendancer]

I am the true vine...

Love. The most desired "fruit of the Spirit." That's why when Jesus told His disciples to wait for the Comforter to empower them, that power from "on High" was to do more than speak in different tongues! The gift of the Holy Spirit was essential to the Church being a "living dynamic witness/presence of Christ." To not only do miracles as Jesus did, but to love others with the same unwavering committed passion that could only come from God! A passion that would inflame the "coldest of hearts" with a desire to give one's life so that others (EVEN those that have committed the vilest of crimes against humanity) may have a chance to know God not just as Creator, but as Beloved Father. To be cleansed, free, redeemed, and, above all - TO BE LOVED!! (That, in itself, is a miracle, INDEED!) Family, if we are truthful, we will admit that NONE of us would be able to love like that! Nor would we want to...what purpose would it serve?
So, let us remember: Pray first that whatever we do to demonstrate God's AGAPE love, we will allow it to come from the One who empowers us to do it in a way that would inspire awe of Him and draw the Lost to the Cross! This way we all get to partake of the Sweetest of All the Fruits, eternally..... and I don't mean an apple! =O)! Amen? Blessings!

 

[Brother Mike]

WoW

Well, I am getting a Big witness here.

risen1 posted about forgiving.
Chad posted about love.
Now this........

Love is a action of faith. Not a feeling.

Jesus Is Lord.

 

[SpiritLedEd]

"Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need." (Acts 2:45)

"There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for all are one in Christ Jesus," (Gal 3:28)

These words paint a picture of how the first century church, operating in true Christian love, drew many to Christ and began the unraveling of the class society that ruled the Roman Empire.

SLE

 

[Fragrant Grace]

Love suffereth long and is kind; Love envieth not; Love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave unseemly, Seeketh not her own, Is not easily provoked, Thinketh no evil
1 Corinthians 13:4

Henry Drummond descibed 'The Spectrum of Love', summing up all the virtues of Christian love as it is seen and practised in everyday life.

Patience............Love suffereth long
Kindness............And is kind
Generosity.........Love envieth not
Humility.............Love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up
Courtesy.......... Doth not behave itself unseemly
Unselfishness.....Seeketh not her own
Good Temper......Is not easily provoked
Guilelessness......Thinketh no evil
Sincerity........... Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth

To me, Christian love is the fruits of the Spirit shining through a heart filled with the tender love of the Saviour. This is a love that the world can never give....only a redeemed soul can through the work of the Holy Spirit begin to live and love like the Saviour.

The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost Rom 5:5


Julia

 

[rlowe]

-
1John 4:18 (NASB)
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love
-