Love Others-What is the impact of loving others on us?
Loving others will cost us something. Jesus didn’t ask us to just tolerate people or be nice to them. He asked us to love them. That’s a lot of work. First and foremost, we need to put aside our indifference towards others. Secondly, we have to develop a heart of compassion and care for others not in the name of doing ministry but to be Christ’s representatives.
We live in a world that is full of darkness and selfishness. The flesh is always after self-preservation, but it cannot be so for the people of God. God’s love is a graceful covering over the entire earth. However, He does more with those who are willing to follow Him. The Lord shows us His love to make us secure in Him, so we don’t have to live a life of self-preservation but a life of self-sacrifice!
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light; 1 Peter 2:9 (KJV)
The Bible calls us peculiar people. We are peculiar because we don’t live for “self” anymore. We are called to be concerned about someone else’s welfare even when that person has ill-will towards us. That is a peculiar action that can only be done by the power and the grace of God!
Love is the most vulnerable place to be with someone. It takes a risk to love people especially those who don’t care about us. True love demands that our hearts stay open towards another person and stretches us to hope again. Love does not give up. Genuine love comes from the heart of benevolence and benefit towards another person. Godly love doesn’t get offended when the other person doesn’t respond the way we hope.
I was recently challenged by the Lord to give up something for someone that I love very much. However, this person can be very indifferent and aloof. My conflict was that I didn’t want to make the sacrifice if they weren’t going to appreciate it. The reality is that the Bible doesn’t guarantee that our love will be appreciated or reciprocated. If that’s our expectation, we will become very stingy lovers!
The good news is that God changes us from the inside out when we love others as ourselves. The kind of love God is asking us to give to others will soften us, stretch our patience, and make us rely more deeply on the Lord. One of the greatest acts of violence against our old nature is to love someone who will not love us back!
Loving our neighbor as ourselves is a great vehicle to develop the fruit of the Spirit in our lives. If we never had to live/work with a difficult person, how can we grow in patience in our lives? How can we develop self-control if there aren’t people who push our buttons? If we never felt unappreciated and unloved, how can we establish faithfulness in the midst of disappointment?
The two greatest commandments challenge us in two directions. Loving God will challenge us to live righteous/holy lives. Loving others as ourselves will demolish self, and it will protect us from self-righteousness! Praise God for His wisdom!
Who do you need to love better?
Yes loving others may or may not produce a desired response back. Our job is to sow with his love to others. We have to believe it will make a difference whether we see it in the natural or not.
Amen! Jesus didn’t have a guarantee than anyone will receive His sacrifice, but He did it anyway. IN faith we sow seeds of love!