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The last two Sundays we looked at two very important marks of our Christian life and experience—faith and hope. No one can be a true believer without them. Yet, neither one can be said to be the greatest characteristic of a true child of God. Jesus Himself set the mark: “By this will all men know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35). Paul explained that love is the secret of a victorious Christian life, for “love is the fulfilling of the law” (Romans 13:10).

Sadly, much that is called love falls short of our Lord’s command. In fact, we know nothing of the love He desires to see in us until we come face to face with Calvary. It is there we learn what it means to love one another as Christ has loved us (John 15:12,13). It is at the cross we find the love that solves our problems and brings harmony and joy into our relationships with one another. What does true love look like? Let us look at three important aspects of the nature of love.

Love Gives :: “God so loved that He gave His Son.” “Christ loved the Church and gave Himself for it.” All that we have as believers we owe to the undeserved yet boundless grace of a loving God. On the night of His betrayal, Jesus commanded His disciples “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another” (John 13:35). How can we express this kind of love to another? Matthew 20:26-28 explains that it is in a life of selfless service that we show God’s love. The mother of James and John requested that her sons be allowed to sit in the places of honor with Jesus in His kingdom. Jesus told her that greatness in His kingdom does not come in sitting but in serving. “Whoever wants to first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many” (vv. 25-26). The great missionary C.T. Studd put it so beautifully: “If Jesus Christ is the Son of God and died for me, then no sacrifice is too great for me to make for Him.”

Love Forgives :: “Father forgive them…” Certainly Jesus set us an example on the cross as He asked the Father to forgive His tormentors. He exhorts us also, when men try to provoke us, to go the second mile, and when they attempt to injure us to turn the other cheek (Matthew 5:39, 41). The forgiveness of divine love is without limitation. Peter thought there was a limit to forgiveness when he asked, “How many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?” Christ corrected him by saying. “Not seven times, but seventy times seven.” (Matthew 18:21-22) In other words, forgive him as often as he needs forgiving. 

Love Endures :: “And now these three remain: faith hope and love. But the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13). Note that all three of the Christian graces will endure, though faith will be turned to sight and hope will be fulfilled in heaven. Why is love greater than these? Because while faith and hope relate mostly to man, love belongs to the very nature of God. “God is Love.” We often sing it: “His love endures forever… and ever… and ever!”    

It is said that when John the Beloved was very old and had to be carried to church in the arms of his disciples, he never tired of repeating the exhortation of his epistle, “Little children, love one another.” This, he said, was the Lord’s command and if only this be done it is enough.

TO REALLY LIVE, YOU MUST REALLY LOVE