What is love? (No, I’m not quoting the song from Night at the Roxbury, I’m posing a legitimate question.) Love shows up first by definition as a noun—an intense feeling of deep affection, or a great interest and pleasure in something. Next comes the verb definition of the word—feel a deep romantic or sexual attachment to (someone), or to like very much; find pleasure in. I want to argue with the dictionary on this one, I think that order is a little off kilter.
I doubt that Jesus wanted his disciples to first have feelings of deep affection or pleasure in each other. I’m not knocking against the concept of brotherly love here, but I’m simply saying that I believe love is a verb first. Love should be an action, not merely an emotion or feeling. The Word says “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you LOVE one another–John 13:35. THIS is the love that Christ compels us to—a functioning, vigorous love. A love that people can SEE as we minister to others. A love that will draw others to Christ through our actions. I want to love the way that Jesus loved. I want to love in such a way that people say, dude, what is with you? I am inspired by the way that Christ loves me, not just the way he loved me by dying on the cross for me, but also by the way that he currently loves me. By giving me grace, by forgiving me, by filling me with his Holy Spirit, by communicating with me through his Word, and by sending others that I am in community with, and even people at home to encourage and build me up. This love is difficult. We know this, that’s why not many people practice it, because it’s hard. To quote my dad, a senior pastor at Church of the Open Door in Elyria, Ohio, “loving people can get messy”; and most of us aren’t willing to get our hands dirty. But think of what typically follows getting your hands dirty—accomplishment, achievement, completion, a job well done. “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Are you willing to maybe get a little bit messy? Are you willing to love the way that Jesus loves us? He’s calling you to it.
What are your actions saying today? Do they proclaim the love of the professed Christ that lives inside of you?
