2008 Woodie Awards
Let us love one another as Christ has loved us
John 15:12, 17
Carrie and Kristin Long
Issue date: 8/31/07 Section: Opinion
- Page 1 of 1
"This is my commandment that ye love one another, as I have loved you. -These things I command you, that ye love one another."
Let us look at these verses from 3 different view points: Love from God to man, Love from man to God, and Love from man to man.
These verses give the people a commandment; not a request, not "if you feel like it," but a commandment or an order if you will. Well, how do you just love someone? In the Biblical context, Jesus is not referring to love as a funny feeling, for feelings fade; He is not referring to passion, for passion cannot be controlled. The love that Christ is referring to is a conscious decision to put another person, and their needs and wants above your own. This love is called or referred to in the Bible, as Agape (uh-gop-eh).
What, you may ask, is Love from God to man? In John 15:13, Jesus said that there is no greater love than for someone to give up their own life for another. Jesus demonstrated this love when He went to the Cross and died for our sins. That is pretty simple and straightforward, so then what is Love from man to God? What God wants from us, as Christians, is stated in Micah 6:8 "…to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God." God wants us to love Him. Loving Him means doing justly; standing by what you say, living for God, and not just talking about it. Loving Him also means loving mercy-forgiving each other. God also wants us to walk with Him; to read His Word and to pray. Finally, how do we show love or Agape from man to man? For some it may mean getting up at 2:00 in the morning to help a friend, or it might mean just smiling at someone. For others, it might mean finding out about someone's day, even when you don't like that person, praying for someone, saying hello, or basically showing yourself to be friendly.
As college students, we know that these first few weeks can be crazy. Freshman and transfer students are in a new place, and quite possibly left all their friends and family at home. Returning students are used to this campus and may prefer to begin winter hibernation. Showing the love of Christ may not come as easily, but when we love God, He helps us to show His love towards one another. God has already demonstrated His love for us, so as a K-Dub student, let us remember to love God, and greet not only our friends, but everyone else (yes, even the teachers), in love; the love that Christ is commanding us to show. There may be someone on this Christian campus who needs to be shown the love of Christ. As Christ has loved us unconditionally, so let us love one another.
Let us look at these verses from 3 different view points: Love from God to man, Love from man to God, and Love from man to man.
These verses give the people a commandment; not a request, not "if you feel like it," but a commandment or an order if you will. Well, how do you just love someone? In the Biblical context, Jesus is not referring to love as a funny feeling, for feelings fade; He is not referring to passion, for passion cannot be controlled. The love that Christ is referring to is a conscious decision to put another person, and their needs and wants above your own. This love is called or referred to in the Bible, as Agape (uh-gop-eh).
What, you may ask, is Love from God to man? In John 15:13, Jesus said that there is no greater love than for someone to give up their own life for another. Jesus demonstrated this love when He went to the Cross and died for our sins. That is pretty simple and straightforward, so then what is Love from man to God? What God wants from us, as Christians, is stated in Micah 6:8 "…to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God." God wants us to love Him. Loving Him means doing justly; standing by what you say, living for God, and not just talking about it. Loving Him also means loving mercy-forgiving each other. God also wants us to walk with Him; to read His Word and to pray. Finally, how do we show love or Agape from man to man? For some it may mean getting up at 2:00 in the morning to help a friend, or it might mean just smiling at someone. For others, it might mean finding out about someone's day, even when you don't like that person, praying for someone, saying hello, or basically showing yourself to be friendly.
As college students, we know that these first few weeks can be crazy. Freshman and transfer students are in a new place, and quite possibly left all their friends and family at home. Returning students are used to this campus and may prefer to begin winter hibernation. Showing the love of Christ may not come as easily, but when we love God, He helps us to show His love towards one another. God has already demonstrated His love for us, so as a K-Dub student, let us remember to love God, and greet not only our friends, but everyone else (yes, even the teachers), in love; the love that Christ is commanding us to show. There may be someone on this Christian campus who needs to be shown the love of Christ. As Christ has loved us unconditionally, so let us love one another.
Be the first to comment on this story