LOVE THE BEST GOSPEL WITNESS

 

 

Many years ago a shabbily dressed boy trudged several miles through the snowy streets of Chicago, determined to attend a Bible class that was conducted by D.L. Moody. When he arrived, he was asked, "Why did you come to a Sunday school so far away? Why didn't you go to one of the churches near your home?" He answered simply, "Because you love a fellow over here."

Apostle Paul loved the Philippians and he enjoyed praying for them (Phil 1: 3-4). In his letter he did not just say he was praying for them, he told them the specific things he was praying for. He wrote “And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment. That you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness” (Phil 1: 9-11). This would make them conscious of these things and they would check to see if Paul’s prayers were being answered by observing what was happening in their lives.

Paul’s first request was that their love “would abound still more and more”. When Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment was, he said “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and the greatest commandment. And the second is like it-love your neighbor as yourself. All the law and the prophets hang on these two commandments” (Matt 22:36-40). Peter wrote “above all, love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8). It’s not surprising then that love was the first thing that Paul prayed for the Philippians. He had his priorities right.

 Loving God with all heart, all soul and all mind is the greatest commandment. If you Love God you also love Jesus Christ. John wrote “Jesus Christ is born of God and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well” (1 John 5:1). So what does loving God entail? How can we practically love God in life? We love God by obeying his word. The Bible tells us that “for this is love of God, that we keep his commandments (1 John 5:3), “If anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them” (1 John 2:5).

Moses’ instructions before death, to the Israelites as they prepared to finally across the Jordan into the Promised Land were “love the Lord your God and keep his requirements, his decrees, his laws and his commands always (Deut 11:1). The first step in obeying God’s commands is to know them; we can only obey God’s decrees, laws and commands if we know them. These are clearly stated in his word-the Bible, to know them all we need to do is to spend time studying it. Prayerfully asking for revelation from the Holy Spirit who searches all things, even the deep things of God (1 Cor. 2:9-10).

The second step is to fully obey what is commanded. To Joshua who took over from Moses, God’s command was “get ready to cross the Jordan river into the land... be careful to obey all the law...do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this book of the law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful (Joshua 1:2,7-8) . Loving God has great benefits both in this life and in the life to come, there are wonderful promises given for doing it.   To Joshua the promise was “you will be prosperous and successful wherever you go”

After the tribes got their land allocations and prepared to settle down, three tribes settled on the eastern side of the Jordan instead of crossing over with the rest. Joshua reminded them “be very careful to keep the commandment and the law Moses ... gave you, to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to keep his commands , to hold fast to him and serve him with all your heart and with all your soul (Joshua22:5). In and outside Canaan loving God and was the greatest commandment.

The second most important command it love your neighbor and yourself. John wrote “if someone says I love God and hates his brother, he is a liar...he who loves God must love his brother also” (1 John 4:21).  We know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. Obeying his word is not hard because” his commands are not burdensome for everyone born of God overcomes the world (1 John 5:2-4). Love must be perfected among us in this, that we may have boldness in the day of judgement because, as he is so we are in this world (1 John 4:17). Then when he appears, we shall appear like him” (1 John 3:2).

One of the glories of the Church is that people who otherwise would have nothing in common become members of the family of God.  People with very different backgrounds and social status, like Lydia, the rich businesswoman; the formerly demonic slave-girl and the jailer suddenly come together as the body of Christ. The test of a mature church is not how much doctrine it has but how much love it manifests. The goal of the Christian life is not doctrine but love “The goal of this command is love which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith” (I Tim. 1:5).

Love is so important that it has been said to be the 'circulatory system' of the body of Christ. In the Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) love is listed first because all the others (joy, peace long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control) flow from it. They are just different expressions of love. A love filled life is beautiful and very attractive. A loving person is a pleasant and safe company; there is no fear in love, perfect love cast out fear (1 John 4:18). Love is the greatest force in the world.  Love strongly binds people together and has been known to melt hearts of stone.

Jesus said “this is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you (John 15:12-14). He also said “by this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35). Love  in action is the most effective witness of the gospel .People will be attracted to a church when they see genuine love and concern among its members for one another. Without love the spiritual gifts and Christian service means nothing to God. But, where love abounds there is no limit to what the Spirit can accomplish through that church.

In 1 Corinthian 13: 1-3 Paul says that if we speak with tongues of angels and men but have no love, it is just meaningless noise in the ears of God.  If we can Prophecy  and understand all mysteries; if we have all knowledge and faith that can move mountains, but have no love, we are nothing in the eyes of God, though highly esteemed by men. Though we bestow all our good to feed the poor and give our bodies as burnt offering and we have no love there will be no reward from God. What great surprises will be in heaven some day!

In 1 Corinthians 13: 4-8 Paul points out the qualities of love that make it an excellent virtue. Anyone in whose heart love reigns is patient and kind; he is not envious, boastful, proud, rude or self-seeking. He does not injure other peoples’ dignity. He does not insist on having his own way, nor does he put his own interests before the needs of others. He is not irritable, he does not keep a record of wrongs done to him or nurture resentments. He takes no delight in evil or the misfortunes of others, but takes great pleasure in what is right.

The Philippians had a lot of love yet Paul did not hesitate to pray that their love would abound still more and more. Paul could have stopped at abound or “more” but he wanted to make his point perfectly clear, their love was to have no limits; love was to fill their hearts and overflow. He prayed that they would love more people and love them in a greater way.  Paul knew their love could grow beyond the bounds it currently enjoyed. He wanted it to grow beyond measure! He didn’t just tell them to love; he prayed that God would enable them to do it. If you are a leader make this a prayer for your people.

In his first letter to the church at Thessalonica, Paul wrote “May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else” (1 Thess. 3:12). Their love was great but Paul wanted it to increase and overflow. Years later, when he wrote his second letter to this church, he complimented them on their abundance of love but, he never told them that it was enough. He observed that “The love every one of you has for each other is increasing” (2 Thess. 1:3). No one has ever arrived in the art of loving as Christ loved. Love is never perfected; there is always room for improvement. May your love abound more and more!