Mother’s love is great, but Christ’s love is greater. We understand how sacrificial our mother is. Christ’s sacrificial love for us is tremendous. We can never fathom the depth of Christ’s love towards us and for us. His love is incomprehensible and indescribable. I marvel at the immensity, the varsity, the greatness, and the extent of His love.
I have two questions to address in this perspective: “What does the love of Christ teach us?” and “How does the love of Christ affect and influence us?” When I examine the love of Christ, I am also examining the love of God. We know the love of God from 1 John 4:10, “In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” The extent of God’s love is shown in the extent of Christ’s love for us. The love of Christ is vividly demonstrated in the obedience of Christ to the Will of His Father. He came to do His Father’s Will. His love teaches us “obedience” and “sacrifice”. These are “service” and “commitment”. Our service and commitment to God require both our obedience and sacrifice. We need to discover God’s Will for ourselves and then, by the grace of God, obey it. I have discovered that it is God’s Will for me to be involved in the Prayer Ministry. That is why I am serving in the Prayer Committee. He has called me to be His intercessor, interceding for the needs of the nations and the churches. He has also called me to be His teacher, teaching His Word to others. That is why I am coming alongside certain individuals, guiding and helping them in their faith in Christ to encourage and strengthen them in the Word of Christ. His love teaches us not to be selfish nor be self-centred but to show care and concern for others by reaching out to their needs and within our means and capacities, to meet those needs.
His love teaches us to love one another. We know this from John 13:34-35, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” Just as Christ Jesus has loved us, we should be able to love one another. Christ’s perfect, pure and powerful love should motivate and move us to love each other. This is the impact and influence of the love of Christ. I cannot imagine how His love could not affect and influence us. As for me, I am touched and transformed by the love of Christ. Christ Jesus has changed me, and I am no longer the same person I used to be. He is still changing me from inside-out. I will focus on the perfect, pure and powerful love of Christ.
If you have been walking with Jesus and have not seen any changes in your life, then you may want to consider approaching the church leaders and talking with them. I believe that they will be more than willing to come and journey alongside you to strengthen your faith and love in Christ.
I have treasured these Bible verses, 2 Corinthians 5:14-15, in my heart: “For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.” Through and in Christ’s love, we are empowered to live for Him rather than for ourselves. We are His and we belong to Him. In the NIV Bible translation: “The love of Christ compels us.” It compels us to act out our faith in Christ in line with God’s holy Word so much so that others shall see the tremendous changes taken place in our lives and then, give glory to God.
The love of Christ affects and influences us in many ways. Our perspective of life changes when we encounter His immense love. Our pursuit in life takes on a new meaning and dimension. We no longer see things in a worldly manner but a heavenly one. We set our minds on things above, not on earthly things. In Hebrews 11:16, we know and learn this: “But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.” We desire to be more like Christ in our lives: our thoughts, ways and actions. Our attitudes, behaviours and conducts would be changed by the transforming power of Christ’s love. Bad habits are gone and new habits are being formed. In Christ, we are a new creation. In Christ, we are set free. We will stand firm and will not succumb ourselves to the bondage of sins. We cultivate new lifestyle patterned after Christ. This is reflected in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” We turn from our sinful ways and walk in Christ’s holy and righteous ways. This is the transforming power of Christ’s love.
When we walk in the love of Christ, we will be able to and will be empowered to love one another in the community of faith in Christ, the community of believers in Christ. All these are done to and for the glory of God and of Christ!
