Authentic Christian Love

¹⁶ So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. ¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!-2 Corinthians 5:16-17


How would you feel if your spouse told you that they love you because they HAVE TO?  What if your parents said, "God said I must love my children, and that is why I love you."  What if your children only "honored" you because it is in the Ten Commandments?  It just wouldn't feel like the real thing, would it? 


And yet Christians go around all the time saying, "Well, being a Christian, I HAVE to love even him." Or ... "I should hate the sin, but love the sinner." I think that is just another way of saying I HAVE to love someone I don't really want to love.  It's like trying to legislate morality... it can't be done.


Authentic Christian love, like morality cannot be instilled in us through law... God's or man's.  This love we are SUPPOSED to feel for everyone can only be transformed into authentic love through the transformation that comes to all of those who daily live as Christ's disciples.  It comes through daily prayer, worship, study and action.  We cannot have authentic Christian love in our hearts simply by attending church once a week.


It is the "supposed to love" Christians that are labeled "judgmental" and "hypocritical."  It is the "authentic love" Christians that turn the world upside down and truly win people to Christ.  If we only had more "authentic love" Christians!  Think of what the world might be today!  Think of the problems that could be solved in this very scary economy!  Think of how the world might begin to view Christianity!... not as hypocritical, self-righteous judges, but as the hands, feet and lips of a loving Savior.


Don't HAVE to love your neighbor... LOVE your neighbor.  Not with feelings, but with action.


Lord Jesus,
You don't love us because you HAVE to, you love us because you just do... with everything you are.  Help us to love you and one another with that kind of pure, authentic love.  Amen.


Joys:  A nice, quiet morning with nothing to rush off to; watching yesterday's torrential rainfall... there is something so soothing about it (at least between the lightning strikes!); spending a little extra time with Daniel yesterday.