Real Christian love isn’t about sugar-coated, ubiquitous forgiveness. And it certainly isn’t about all the so-called “gifts of the Spirit.” No, if you truly want to be more Christ-like (and you should want that), you should focus on what God’s word. His WHOLE word.
Yeah, real Christian love realizes the need to rightly divide the word of Truth.
Because the sugar-coated, ubiquitous forgiveness kind of Christian love cherrypicks Bible verses to make people “feel good” about themselves. It gives an unbelieving world a false sense of security. And there is NO security in this world apart from a relationship with the One who made you.
Here’s something I shared, a few years ago, about real Christian love. And it applies more than ever…
– True Christian love won’t lie to you about your own power. And Christian love will tell you the truth about yourself…even when it disagrees with your earthly sensibilities. You might hear a guy on TV talking about how “faith can move mountains.” Or you might gaze in amazement as another televangelist babbles “in tongues”…as you wonder what in the world it means. And you might hear yet another TV ministry boasting about how much they feed the poor, heal the sick, and tend to the needy. But a guy known as the Apostle Paul wrote about what a Christian’s greatest gift is…
LOVE
Paul said speaking in tongues without love is like making an obnoxious noise. He also said being able to prophesy and understand all mysteries…and having a faith to move mountains…without love…means you still amount to nothing. He also said that even if you give all your “goods to feed the poor” and even if you give your “body to be burned“, but you don’t have love…it amounts to nothing.
Wow. That’s pretty strong talk. And Paul used the word “nothing” twice within two verses. He must have known how important it is to emphasize what everything amounts to without love. Wouldn’t you agree?
So, here’s the good news.
Love can build inside you despite what you might feel this very moment. Maybe it has to begin with an act of your will. Maybe you don’t feel loved and you don’t feel much like loving. But the great thing about love is…it increases in you the more you give it away. You can be the starting point, and God will not allow you to go unloved as a result. Paul wrote “love never fails.” And it never does. You may see a small “battle” not being won in love, but the ongoing struggles in life are only won in love. Only in love.
If you’re feeling unloved today, I’d like you to know you’re not. Your Creator loves you, and He wants to be close to you. Will you let Him be the centerpiece and cornerstone of love in your life? Or do you prefer to struggle in doubt without love? The choice is yours. –
And here’s what I’ll add to what I said back then. Pay close attention to what’s required. Yes, required. Because, in spite of another ubiquitous phrase tossed around (which is also fake Christian love), God’s eternal love is NOT unconditional. There IS a condition. A requirement.
Your humble act of repentance.
But He doesn’t force you to repent. You have the freedom to choose between two choices. 1. To love Him. 2. Or not. And, out of real Christian love for my neighbor, I urge you to choose 1.
And, out of love for my Christian brothers and sisters, I urge you to not spread a false sense of security message.
Humble yourself and God will lift you up.
Worldliness won’t put sweet water in your cup.
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