If we decide to love as Christ loves us, it will look a lot like this: We would Submit to one another, Forgive one another, Encourage one another, Restore one another, Accept one another, Care for one another, Bear with one another, and Carry one another’s burdens, as Christ did. This is the shortlist of all God, through Christ, has done for each one of us.
Jesus’ new single command, designed to serve as the overarching ethic for His church, is: “Love one another, just as I have loved you” (John 15:12).
Imagine a world where people are envious of how well Christians treat one another, even though they are skeptical of what Christians believe. There was a time when pagans found the church to be somewhat irresistible. Church, we should be somewhat irresistible today. The “As Christ did list” should epitomize those who call themselves “Christians.” When people outside the church think about people inside the church, the items on this list should come to mind. We should be the community’s best neighbors, employers, employees, friends, partners, and coaches.
The “As Christ did” way, the way of Jesus appeals to something that resides in the heart of every man, woman, and child. Everybody wants to be loved. Everybody wants to feel included in a community characterized by love. We all desire to be included, recognized and loved. So, what if we just did that? Why not? After all, Paul said, “The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love” (Galatians 5:6).
Additional Scriptures: John 13:34, 1 John 4:21, 1 John 3:23, Romans 12:10, 1 Peter 4:8, Ephesians 5:2, 1 Peter 3:8, 1 John 3:11-18, 1 Peter 1:22)
