In the first devotional, we talked about what it meant for Jesus to be the Light. We also talked about how we, as individuals, are now called to be the light through Him. This week, were gonna talk about how Jesus is also the perfect definition of love, and how by loving like Him, we continue to allow His light to shine through us.
But what does perfect love look like, how does it work. This is how Paul describes it in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love, never fails.”
Perfect love is not angry. It doesn't focus on itself, it focuses on protecting and preserving others. And if Jesus is a perfect image of love, He too is all these things. Jesus is patient, He is kind, He is not angry, He rejoices in truth. Jesus never fails.
He keeps no record of wrongs. Let's look at that for a few minutes. A lot of times, people see God as some angry bearded guy, sitting up in Heaven with a lightning bolt, waiting for you to screw up and blast you with it. Doesn’t sound very loving does it? That’s because its not, even according to Paul. If Jesus, and therefore God (Jesus is the full revelation of God) is love, then He too keeps no record of wrongs. He’s not sitting up in Heaven, far away writing down everything you do wrong, He’s with you, right now, trying to help you walk through life. And the beautiful thing is, even when you mess up (we all do) He doesn’t get mad at you, He helps you get through that too.
God is not your worst critic, He’s your best friend. He’s not here to beat you up, He’s here to help you, through everything, no matter what because He loves you.
So we can see that Jesus loves us, and what that means, but what does that mean for everyone else, for the people around us? Well, going back to what we said in the last devotional, were supposed to take what Jesus is, and emulate it. Since Jesus is light, we are light, and since He is love, were supposed to be love to those around us.
“So this is my command: Love each other deeply, as much as I have loved you. For the greatest love of all is a love that sacrifices all.”
Jesus tells us to love others just as He loves us. To be patient, and kind, not to be angry, to keep no record of wrongs, to sacrifice our desire to lash out in anger, so that others can see Jesus in you, through the way you love others, despite how much your mind might be telling you to lash out.
What is your definition of love? How do you see God? What are some ways to love like Jesus?