What is Love? Part One

I’ve had the opportunity to do some deep self-reflection during the past few days as I’ve sat for hours in airports and in the air during my travel to Florida for my Dad’s memorial. I’ve seen the love of God at work in me and through me in ways I’ve never experienced before. I’ve asked God in the past to give me a heart like his toward others, but always with my own set of unrealized limitations for what that meant. I’ll give an example: I was once asked to lead a group of youth on a short-term mission trip to Mexico. I never really wanted to go to Mexico because so many ministries focus there. My heart was for people of nations whose exposure to the Gospel is hindered by geography or by government or other such limitations. I had to ask God to break my heart for the people of Mexico and create in me a desire to take his Word to them. He did as I asked allowing me to have a deep measure of compassion for them, resulting in subsequent trips as well. But until this week, I don’t think I’ve ever experienced the love that God truly intended for me to have for others, for his love has no boundaries or limitations.

John 3:16 says For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (NIV) In my recent reading of a book entitled Love Not the World by Watchman Nee, this “world” that God loved has come to have new meaning. At a glance it may look like I’m saying love the world, yet love not the world. Here is what I mean: Love the world, which is humanity and everything that God created to live in harmonious fellowship with him; love not “the world,” which is anything that exists apart from God also referred to as worldly affairs. (If you’re interested in more about this I am currently working on an in-depth review of this book. You can find it published at http://docdesignpro.com/ddpblog/bibliophile.php.) You may argue that unbelievers fall into this category of “worldly”, yet I would argue that the breath they breathe is the breath of God himself. They do not exist apart from Him. They are not, therefore of the world, but of God (the cravings of their flesh may be of the world, as were ours once (1 John 2:16)). They will be judged for their unfaithfulness, the Bible assures. Yet we are to love as God loved and continues to love his humanity. For as 2 Peter 3:9 tells us The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. (NIV)

So as I’ve experienced God’s love anew this week, I’ve decided to share what I’ve learned as I believe these principles truly are hidden treasures worth discovery.

1) We must show God’s love in our opinions of others unlike ourselves.
Are we allowing God to show love for others who are unlike us? It is often very difficult to love others who are “hostile” to the Word of God (See Romans 8:6-8). They don’t understand and often openly attack our sensibilities and values. I think we, humanity in general, tend to form very critical and often harsh opinions of others who don’t share in our values, saying such things as, “how can you possibly believe that?” This is obvious in the well-known idea that it is best to avoid topics of politics, economics and religion in conversations. Consider whether you have ever criticized another because they “blew their money” on what you deem senseless things. What about the open and often mean-spirited criticism of others’ viewpoints on sensitive political, social and moral values? Are you showing love toward others who openly criticize God? Or to those who are radical or extremist in their religious views?

Certainly most, if not all, of us can answer affirmative in at least one of these areas…even if as a momentary impulse. Whether we like it or not, this is wrong. No matter how justified we may feel in our criticism (which incidentally means condemnation), Scripture tells us in 1 Corinthians 5:12-13, What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? […] God will judge those outside. (NIV) Jesus said in John 12:48 There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day. (NIV)

I am not referring here to our beliefs about the issues, rather to our response to the individuals who hold beliefs differing from ours. We must recognize that our battle is not with those whom God has made, but with the powers of darkness (See Ephesians 6:12-13). In addition, for those of us who became Christians as adults, we must remember the ideologies to which we once held and how drastically our views have changed since Christ has taken up dwelling in our hearts.

I have chosen to use these three examples specifically to illustrate my point because they are sensitive issues that should force us to examine our hearts toward others. While critical and harsh judgments show up most obviously in these areas, they are not limited to these categories. This judgmental attitude shows up in seemingly insignificant areas as well. I won’t list these, as you pray God will show you where your heart may be harsh or critical of others.

I personally came face-to-face with this attitude of heart during my trip. It presented in many manifestations and in many different people. I’ve never felt more challenged by God to love than in the previous three days, and I can say without hesitation that what God said to my heart is, “I have commanded you to love, not to judge.” So I laid aside my political, economical, social, and other ideologies for the sake of loving others in the same way that God has loved and continues to love me. This was powerful as I recognized that this was a demonstration of the power of God to love others through a willing heart.

Now I feel it’s worth mentioning, not because I am seeking any praise, but because I want to caution against any haughtiness about this, regardless of how I think or feel about a particular issue, I would never mistreat another human being. If we make this about our actions, then we have missed the point. This matter is one of attitude. For God does not judge our outward appearances, but what is in our hearts (1 Samuel 16:7). So while we may stand before man with clean conscience as it relates to our behavior, we must ask ourselves, can we stand before God with clean conscience in the matters of our hearts?

© 2009 by Stephanie French