"God showed how much he loved us by sending his only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love. It is not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.” 1 John 4:9-10
The Lord has impressed on my heart three character qualities of His that I am to reflect; love compassion and joy. Each day as we put on Christ I hope that we will fall deeper in love with our Creator. Will you join me in prayer as we cry out for understanding of His love, His compassion, and His joy? I pray that He will soften, shape and mold each of us to reflect His love and compassion. Most of all I pray that we will experience a new type of love for Him, a love that leaves us humbled, hungry, and excited to show it and share it with all who need it.
As we begin our quest to reflect Christ’s love we need to understand what the four letter word means, in doing so we will look at it from the English and Greek translation. In the English translation it is the ultimate expression of God’s loyalty, purity, and mercy extended toward His people. It is to be reflected in our human relationships with brotherly concern, marital fidelity, and most important, adoration of God.
In the Greek translation, there are three words for love, Eros-which is romantic love, Phileo-which is brotherly love toward someone we really like, and Agape-which is the deepest love, it is a sacrificial love that is shown to us through Christ.
And just as our passage says “God showed how much he loved us by sending his only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love. It is not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.” 1 John 4:9-10 that is agape love!
Step one to reflecting Christ’s love is placing Jesus within us and allowing Him to become ruler over our hearts. It is not our nature to love but it is Jesus’ very nature. It is who He is!
In order for us to comprehend love we have to look at the life of Christ. So grab your Kleenex and handkerchiefs it is going to be a month full of the most heartfelt stories ever told, and for my brothers in Christ I promise it will not get to mushy! It will be action packed as well!
Prayer: Jesus today we are laying our hearts in Your hands. Shape and mold us Lord to be a reflection of Your love. Amen
