Removing the Buttons Part Six - Real Love
So far in looking at the Sermon on the Mount, we've heard some great button-less commands from Jesus:
Be Weird.
Forgive.
Bounce.
Speak Truth.
Don't slap back.
Tough teachings, but all of them are focused not on just doing the right thing but on making sure your actions reflect your heart. In essence, Jesus is showing us how to love.
The word love in the New Testament is almost always agape, a Greek word that describes the unconditional, selfless, perfect love of Christ. It's not just in an emotion; (emotions don't reveal God!) agape is love that is lived out. Of course, we won't always get it right, [we're not God!!!] but when we think about how to agape love someone, our question should be, "How would Jesus love this person?"
And our mind goes to how He:
>saved the life of a woman caught in adultery who was about to be stoned (John 8:1-11)
>commanded demons to come out of a crazy man living in a cemetery (Mark 5:1-20)
>knew Judas would betray Him but still loved him so much the other apostles were shocked when they found out (John 13:18-30)
So when we think about how Jesus loved and how He calls us to love, we shouldn't be surprised at His next command:
"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven," (Matthew 5:43-45).
That "love your neighbor and hate your enemy" thing is definitely not found in Scripture. It was just common knowledge of the day; it's what everyone did. (And it's pretty much what everyone does today, right?)
But Jesus never wanted us to be like everyone else. Never.
He wanted us to be salt and light. (Go back to Day 1 of this series if you haven't read it yet.)
So we're supposed to agape love our enemies. Unconditionally. Selflessly. Perfectly. With our actions, not just our emotions.
(Some of you might be thinking, "The best I can love her is just to avoid her. That's the nicest thing I can do!)
I hear you. I really do. I've been there and I'll have that exact thought myself in the near future, I'm sure.
But that's not agape love.
Now, before you think that just by acting nice toward an "enemy" will work, remember that all these commands from the Sermon on the Mount focus on one thing: the heart. And you're not obeying Christ's commands if you're harboring hate in your heart and just doing a good job of hiding it. To obey this command we look at that enemy and ask ourselves, "How would Jesus agape love that person?"
And then we do it. Wholeheartedly.
Jesus isn't asking us to do something He didn't do. Consider this:
>As Judas came up with soldiers to arrest Him, He called him "friend," (Matthew 26:50).
>As executioners hung Jesus on the cross and gambled for His clothing, He said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing," (Luke 23:34).
And think about this: the very fact that Jesus came to earth showed love to His enemies. "While we were still sinners, Christ died for us," (Romans 5:8). He knew exactly what He was doing when He came to earth. He died for Judas. For the executioners. For all His enemies.
Including you.
It wasn't that long ago that you were His enemy. You loved yourself and your own life more than Him. You sinned without remorse. Yet He forgave you and now calls you His own.
HE. LOVES. YOU. Always has. Always will. No matter what.
So if we want to reflect the love of God the Father and Jesus the Son, we love...really love...agape love our enemies, showing that we truly are sons of our Father in heaven (Matthew 5:45, above).
Who is your enemy?
How would Jesus love them today?
Feel free to subscribe with your email address at the top right.
Or email me at myleslienotebook@gmail.com
Be Weird.
Forgive.
Bounce.
Speak Truth.
Don't slap back.
Tough teachings, but all of them are focused not on just doing the right thing but on making sure your actions reflect your heart. In essence, Jesus is showing us how to love.
The word love in the New Testament is almost always agape, a Greek word that describes the unconditional, selfless, perfect love of Christ. It's not just in an emotion; (emotions don't reveal God!) agape is love that is lived out. Of course, we won't always get it right, [we're not God!!!] but when we think about how to agape love someone, our question should be, "How would Jesus love this person?"
And our mind goes to how He:
>saved the life of a woman caught in adultery who was about to be stoned (John 8:1-11)
>commanded demons to come out of a crazy man living in a cemetery (Mark 5:1-20)
>knew Judas would betray Him but still loved him so much the other apostles were shocked when they found out (John 13:18-30)
So when we think about how Jesus loved and how He calls us to love, we shouldn't be surprised at His next command:
"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven," (Matthew 5:43-45).
That "love your neighbor and hate your enemy" thing is definitely not found in Scripture. It was just common knowledge of the day; it's what everyone did. (And it's pretty much what everyone does today, right?)
But Jesus never wanted us to be like everyone else. Never.
He wanted us to be salt and light. (Go back to Day 1 of this series if you haven't read it yet.)
So we're supposed to agape love our enemies. Unconditionally. Selflessly. Perfectly. With our actions, not just our emotions.
(Some of you might be thinking, "The best I can love her is just to avoid her. That's the nicest thing I can do!)
I hear you. I really do. I've been there and I'll have that exact thought myself in the near future, I'm sure.
But that's not agape love.
Now, before you think that just by acting nice toward an "enemy" will work, remember that all these commands from the Sermon on the Mount focus on one thing: the heart. And you're not obeying Christ's commands if you're harboring hate in your heart and just doing a good job of hiding it. To obey this command we look at that enemy and ask ourselves, "How would Jesus agape love that person?"
And then we do it. Wholeheartedly.
Jesus isn't asking us to do something He didn't do. Consider this:
>As Judas came up with soldiers to arrest Him, He called him "friend," (Matthew 26:50).
>As executioners hung Jesus on the cross and gambled for His clothing, He said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing," (Luke 23:34).
And think about this: the very fact that Jesus came to earth showed love to His enemies. "While we were still sinners, Christ died for us," (Romans 5:8). He knew exactly what He was doing when He came to earth. He died for Judas. For the executioners. For all His enemies.
Including you.
It wasn't that long ago that you were His enemy. You loved yourself and your own life more than Him. You sinned without remorse. Yet He forgave you and now calls you His own.
HE. LOVES. YOU. Always has. Always will. No matter what.
So if we want to reflect the love of God the Father and Jesus the Son, we love...really love...agape love our enemies, showing that we truly are sons of our Father in heaven (Matthew 5:45, above).
Who is your enemy?
How would Jesus love them today?
Feel free to subscribe with your email address at the top right.
Or email me at myleslienotebook@gmail.com
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