Nothing can touch a heart like love. Love can cause us to do things we thought we would never do. It can cause us to think in a way that may be irrational or impulsive. It can cause us to sacrifice things that are dear to us, to change our desires, and to surrender our will to another. That’s what love can do, and so much more. Real love, love like Jesus has for us, can move mountains because that love is an unconditional love that is unmatched by any other love. This unconditional love is how we are to love others if we are to be like Jesus, and if we are to have an impact on others.
John 15:9 “As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.”
Jesus loves everyone, yes even those who hate Him. When He was dying on the cross, He asked His Father to forgive those who were crucifying Him because they didn’t understand what they were doing. Now that’s real love! That’s the love he has for each one of us, not just those who love Him, not just those who live a life pleasing to Him, but everyone. Remember John 3:16. His love is extended to the entire world.
Luke 23:34 “Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.”
His love is complete and totally undeserved. He still loves those who choose to reject Him and spend eternity without Him. His holiness will not allow sin into Heaven, but it doesn’t change the fact that He loves them. Our love for others is to be unconditional as God’s love is for us. Please do not misunderstand unconditional love. It does not mean that we are to accept whatever people do as if we are ok with it. When a person does wrong, they should suffer the consequences of their actions. If one of my sons kills someone or robs someone, they should suffer what the law deems as just punishment. I should not try to interfere with proper punishment, but it would not change the love that I have for them.
This is the way that God loves us. His holiness requires justice, but it doesn’t change the love He has for us. It must break his heart to love someone so deeply, and yet, they still turn their back on Him. He offers them a perfect love for all eternity, and they reject Him. We are to love others the way God loves us. If they reject us, we need to continue to love them. When we offer to tell them about salvation through Jesus, and they reject it, we should love them even more. They are like those who were crucifying Jesus, they don’t understand what they are doing.
God loves all, he is not partial, and we should not be either. While it is impossible for us to love everyone the way we love our children and family, we must still be willing to extend love to them just as Jesus does. Every person is a soul that God loves and wants to spend eternity in Heaven with. We should also want that for all.
Act 10:34 “So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality.”
When others see and feel this kind of love, it will have an impact on them. This is a love that is so different from what the world shows, it can’t help but draw attention. It is a distinguishing factor for a Christian.
When someone does us wrong, we are to love.
Matthew 5:44 “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;”
When they don’t love us as we love them, we are to still love them. They hated Jesus and they will probably hate us, even when we are showing love to them.
John 15:18-19 “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.”
We are to love the poor and the rich alike. We, like God, are to show no partiality. We should not love others more because they have more and can respond to our love equally.
James 2:3 “ And ye have respect to him that wears the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:”
I believe that loving others as Jesus loves is the greatest way to impact and influence others. Almost everyone responds to love. We need to understand loving this way is not an emotion it is a decision. A decision based on our love for God. John 14:15 teaches that love equals obedience. If we love others this way, it will be noticed. You may not have an impact on a person that you desire. They may not accept Christ or grow as a result of your influence, but there will be no denying that you are a child of God, who is truly sold out to following His leadership when you love the way God loves.
John 14:15 “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”
