Ultimate Model

In Matthew 22:37-40, Jesus answers the question of the “greatest commandment in the law.” You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, your soul, and all your mind.” In verse 39 He says, “And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ Love God and love people. In this space we have discussed this thoroughly, but for me I need to be reminded how difficult it can be to love people like God loves us. Unconditional love. Learn to love someone you don’t like. From his book Life Promises for Leaders, Zig Ziglar offers wisdom:

It’s easy to talk a good game. We say we’re committed to our spouses, our kids, and our friends, but the measure of love is the depth of sacrifice we are willing to make for them. How often we are willing to forgo our own pleasures, and comforts for the good of another person?

We seek genuine love in times of crisis when a person risks life and peace to help someone in need. Caring for chronically sick relative is a demonstration of authentic, “greater love,” as are being patient with an annoying person, for giving a habitual offender, and speaking the truth when it would be easier to run away and hide.

We live in a self-absorbed world where personal rights reign supreme, but every society has been selfish to one degree or another. Self-sacrifice is rare as it is powerful; however, it’s the inherent nature of believers who follow the example of the One who risked it all and gave all for those who didn’t understand or appreciate what He was doing. His life and death are the ultimate models of love.

Questions

What does authentic love look like to you?

In what ways was Christ’s life as much of a sacrifice as His death?

Take a Look

John 15:13

John 3:16

Psalm 25:14

—Mike