It was the American poet, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, who penned these words which I find to be so true, “Love gives itself; it is not bought.” The New Dictionary of Thoughts, 369.
The English author, Hanna Moore, agrees with Longfellow when she wrote, “Love never reasons, but profusely gives; gives, like a thoughtless prodigal, its all, and trembles then lest it has done too little.” Ibid., 370.
The great German Reformer, Martin Luther, in his summation on God’s love, says, “Love is an image of God, and not a lifeless image, but the living essence of the divine nature which beams full of all goodness.” Ibid., 369.
Therefore, dearly beloved, “They are the true disciples of Christ, not who know most, but who love most.” Fredrick Spanheim, German Theologian.
Jesus Christ our divine Savior taught specifically, “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” John 13:34, 35.
What defines this “New Commandment”? What is it all about and why is it so important to the extent that Jesus says it is the trademark of discipleship?
One of Satan’s main activities among Christians is to destroy love for God and love for one another. He well knows the value and power of divine love. He knows what it can accomplish and what it will do for us individually, so he works determinedly to exterminate this plant of heavenly origin from every Christian’s life and the true church.
This commandment of Jesus to love was not in itself new. It was part of the instructions given to Moses, “Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the Lord.” Leviticus 19:18.
This verse contains some divine prohibitions. Firstly, God says, “Thou shalt not avenge.” This is another way of saying, “Thou shalt forgive.” With the spirit of vengeance there can be no peace on the earth. God says, “Vengeance is mine.” Secondly, God commands, Thou shalt not “bear any grudge against the children of thy people.” Here God specifically gives instruction to his people not to cherish anger or keep a record, or reserve of wrongs or hurts done to them by their fellow men.
Christ’s love was revealed by the things He taught and did, which sometimes seemed very unusual. He said, “Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.” Matthew 5:43, 44.
“Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.” Matthew 5:38, 39.
“And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also.” Matthew 5:40.
“For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? Do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?” Matthew 5:46, 47.
“But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.” Luke 6:35.
“Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. After that he poureth water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.” John 13:3–5.
“And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest’s, and smote off his ear. Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.” Matthew 26:51, 52.
Jesus’ love which is eternal and divine cannot be affected by circumstances. It is unchanging and focuses more on the person than the action of the person. We are told by God’s servant that “Christ has borne with the erring through all his manifest perversity and rebellion. His love for the sinner does not grow cold, His efforts do not cease, and He does not give him up to the buffeting of Satan. He has stood with open arms to welcome again the erring, the rebellious, and even the apostate.” Testimonies, vol. 4, 420.
Jesus, preparing himself for Calvary and his ascension back to heaven, was deeply concerned about the spiritual condition of the men he would leave in charge of his church. So, “in this last meeting with His disciples, the great desire which Christ expressed for them was that they might love one another as He had loved them. Again and again He spoke of this. ‘These things I command you,’ He said repeatedly, ‘that ye love one another.’ (John 15:17.) His very first injunction when alone with them in the upper chamber was, ‘A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.’ (John 13:34.) To the disciples this commandment was new; for they had not loved one another as Christ had loved them. He saw that new ideas and impulses must control them; that new principles must be practiced by them; through His life and death they were to receive a new conception of love. The command to love one another had a new meaning in the light of His self-sacrifice. The whole work of grace is one continual service of love, of self-denying, self-sacrificing effort. During every hour of Christ’s sojourn upon the earth, the love of God was flowing from Him in irrepressible streams. All who are imbued with His Spirit will love as He loved. The very principle that actuated Christ will actuate them in all their dealing one with another.” The Desire of Ages, 677, 678.
The apostle John speaks conclusively and emphatically of this love which is so different from anything earthly and human: “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” I John 4:10. God, the offended, chose, and continues to choose, to love us, the offenders. He looks beyond our faults and sees our needs.
The measure of this love is the standard found in I Corinthians 13. “Every true Christian will develop in his life the characteristics of this divine love; he will reveal a spirit of forbearance, of beneficence, and a freedom from envy and jealousy. This character developed in word and act will not repulse, and will not be unapproachable, cold, and indifferent to the interests of others. The person who cultivates the precious plant of love will be self-denying in spirit, and will not yield self-control even under provocation. He will not impute wrong motives and evil intentions to others, but will feel deeply over sin when discovered in any of the disciples of Christ.
“Love vaunteth not itself. It is a humble element; it never prompts a man to boast, to exalt himself. Love for God and for our fellow men will not be revealed in acts of rashness nor lead us to be overbearing, faultfinding, or dictatorial. Love is not puffed up. The heart where love reigns will be guided to a gentle, courteous, compassionate course of conduct toward others, whether they suit our fancy or not, whether they respect us or treat us ill. Love is an active principle; it keeps the good of others continually before us, thus restraining us from inconsiderate actions lest we fail of our object in winning souls to Christ. Love seeks not its own. It will not prompt men to seek their own ease and indulgence of self. It is the respect we render to I that so often hinders the growth of love.” Testimonies, vol 5, 123, 124.
“This is the love Jesus brought, and it was a new thing in this world.” The Gospel of John, vol. 4, 1040, by James Montgomery Boice. This love focuses more on who we are than on what we do. It works from the inside out. The fruit of love reveals the true Christian, for if this fruit is absent, regardless of the profession, that person is not a disciple of Christ.
The apostle Paul struggles to provide an understanding of this wonderful love. He calls us to remember: “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:6–8.
Paul is emphasizing that this is the utmost that can be expected of human love. It is remotely possible that someone would be willing to sacrifice himself for a dear friend who is sufficiently good and lovable. But so great is the love of God for His erring creatures that Jesus died for us when we were godless and rebellious enemies. By the death of Jesus, God gives proof of His love to us.
Jesus sought for the best way to explain this new commandment. He said, “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:12, 13. He wanted them to exercise the same love towards one another that He had manifested towards them. He was about to demonstrate the extent of that love and lay down His own life for them. His love exceeded that which He had commended to them: “while we were yet sinners” He died for us.
This brings to light His strange and unfathomable teaching recorded in the Sermon on the Mount: “Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.” Matthew 5:43, 44. Christ’s love transcends love for friends; it reaches out constantly to those who have done the greatest amount of evil. It confronts those who have done to us the greatest amount of wrong! Jesus’ love and example dictate to us that we should be as eager to demonstrate the same unchanging, unselfish love towards our fellowmen, in spite of whatever evil or wrong they may have done to us!
The Human Relationship Factor That Prevents Us From Experiencing God’s Love
What is it that prevents us from experiencing the love of God? We find our answer in the book, Our High Calling, page 348: “Love of self excludes the love of Christ. Those who live for self are ranged under the head of the Laodicean church who are lukewarm, neither cold nor hot. The ardor of the first love has lapsed into a selfish egotism. The love of Christ in the heart is expressed in the actions. If love for Christ is dull, the love for those for whom Christ has died will degenerate. There may be a wonderful appearance for zeal and ceremonies, but this is the substance of their self-inflated religion. Christ represents them as nauseating to His taste.”
The greatest challenge to man is to denounce self. It feels good to promote self, for then we can be revengeful, grudging, resentful, unkind, impatient, unloving, and selfish. In this way we can protect ourselves from being hurt or wronged; thus we take measures to prevent such things from ever happening to us. The question then that we need to answer is: Is this the way Christ loves? Does He love with reservation or with stipulated conditions, e.g., “I will love you only if …”? Please remember, Jesus is our paradigm!
Dr. Leo Buscaglia in his book, Loving Each Other, pages 95, 96, highlights the principle of love in this way: “When we give ourselves in love we become our most vulnerable. We are never safe. We become open to disappointment and hurt. In a relationship, individuals come together with separate histories and experiences. They do this in hope of creating new worlds by writing, living out and sharing new experiences together. But this is not easy, since we all interact in the shadow of past fears, expectations and habits; since we are all different, all imperfect, it is seldom possible without encountering conflict.”
In the church, people are brought together with different experiences, viewpoints, and characters, to build loving relationships in Christ that will be a marvel to the world. The church ought to be a microcosm of what the world should be. I believe Jesus had this thought in mind when He called His followers the “salt of the earth” and the “light of the world”!
Dr. Buscaglia continues by stating, “When we feel wronged, we immediately look to the other for blame. We perceive ourselves as victims. Something has been done to us, ‘the innocent.’ We have a right, therefore, to demand justice. We believe justice has been accomplished only when we can hurt those who have hurt us, disappoint those who have disillusioned us, make those suffer who have injured us and given us pain. They must experience our revenge at once and preferably continue to experience it forever. We are certain that wrongs will be righted in this way. Only then will the slate be wiped clean and our pain disappear. After all, we rationalize, it was the other’s fault. … Why then should we be the one to suffer? We seek vengeance for we know that the experience will be sweet. But do we find it so? How many of us have gone to great pains to avenge a wrongdoing, only to find that once we have had our revenge we have accomplished little more than finding ourselves loveless and alone? What satisfaction is there in causing another to suffer if our pain still remains?”
So we see that to be human is so dangerous, for it is only about self-seeking and self-satisfaction. After self has displayed all the selfishness there is, we find ourselves more sad, unhappy, sick and lonely! One author, namely Dr. Gerald Jampolsky states, “Hate, bitterness and vindictiveness are overpowering, self-defeating and intellectually as well as emotionally depleting.” Ibid., 95.
According to Dr. Buscaglia, “When wronged by those we love we seem to devalue years of relationship—a relationship that may have brought us many joys and which required much intellectual and emotional energy to have lasted so long. Still, with a single harsh statement, a thoughtless act, an unfeeling criticism, we are capable of destroying even the closest of our relationships. We quickly forget the good and set out to rationalize scenarios of hate. We do this rather than take up the challenge of honest evaluation and confrontation. We ignore the possibility that in the act of forgiving and showing compassion we are very likely to discover new depths in ourselves and new possibilities for relating in the future. We are too proud. We engage in self-defeating activities which keep us from forgiving; beliefs that if we withdraw and run from the situation we will hurt the other and absence will heal us; the fantasy that in avoidance there can be closure; the naïve hope that in hurting, shaming, blaming and condemning we will be made to feel better. We fail to realize that when we refuse to engage in forgiving behaviors, it is we who assume the useless weight of hate, pain and vengeance which is never ending, and, instead, weighs upon us rather than the wrongdoer.” Ibid., 96, 97.
It is far better to be governed by the love of God, for Divine love has healing power. “The power of love was in all Christ’s healing, and only by partaking of that love, through faith, can we be instruments for His work. If we neglect to link ourselves in divine connection with Christ, the current of life-giving energy cannot flow in rich streams from us to the people.” The Desire of Ages, 825. With this in mind a number of questions come to mind.
What Has Happened To God’s Love In His Church?
“The love of God has been waning in the church, and as a result, the love of self has sprung up into new activity. With the loss of love for God there has come the loss of love for the brethren.” Selected Messages, Book 1, 387. “Selfishness is driving benevolence and the love of Christ from the church.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 205.
When The Church Lacks Love, What Is The Result?
“The church is greatly deficient in love and humanity. Some preserve a cold, chilling reserve, an iron dignity that repels those who are brought within their influence. This spirit is contagious; it creates an atmosphere that is withering to good impulses and good resolves; it chokes the natural current of human sympathy, cordiality, and love; and under its influence people become constrained, and their social and generous attributes are destroyed for want of exercise. Not only is the spiritual health affected, but the physical health suffers by this unnatural depression. The gloom and chill of this unsocial atmosphere is reflected upon the countenance. The faces of those who are benevolent and sympathetic will shine with the luster of true goodness, while those who do not cherish kindly thoughts and unselfish motives express in their faces the sentiments cherished in their hearts.” Testimonies, vol. 4, 63. “There is nothing that can so weaken the influence of the church as the lack of love.” That I May Know Him, 153.
What Is It That Will Make The Church Prosper?
“In order for the church to prosper there must be a studious effort on the part of its members to cherish the precious plant of love. Let it have every advantage that it may flourish in the heart.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 123. “Nothing will so successfully defeat the devices of Satan and his emissaries, nothing will so build up the Redeemer’s kingdom, as will the love of Christ manifested by the members of the church. Peace and prosperity can be enjoyed only as meekness and love are in active exercise.” Ibid., 167.
What Will Be The Product Of Love?
“Nothing can perfect a perfect unity in the church but the spirit of Christlike forbearance. Satan can sow discord; Christ alone can harmonize the disagreeing elements. … When you as individual workers of the church love God supremely and your neighbor as yourself, then there will be no labored efforts to be in unity, there will be oneness in Christ, the ears to report will be closed, and no one will take up a reproach against his neighbor. The members of the church will cherish love and unity and be as one great family. Then we shall bear the credentials to the world that will testify that God has sent His Son into the world.” Reflecting Christ, 200.
What Will Be The Instrument That The Church Will Use To Move The World?
“When those who profess to serve God follow Christ’s example, practicing the principles of the law in their daily life; when every act bears witness that they love God supremely and their neighbor as themselves, then will the church have power to move the world.” Ibid., 298.
“Christ’s most favorite theme was the paternal character and abundant love of God. The curse of every church today is that men do not adopt Christ’s methods.” Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 192.
Seriously ponder this question. Are you a true Christian, a true disciple of the meek and lowly Jesus? Are you? Our Savior emphatically affirms, “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” John 13: 35.
Jesus says to you today, “This is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you.” John 15:12. Amen!
Pastor Ivan Plummer ministers through the Emmanuel Seventh Day Church Ministries in Bronx, New York. He may be contacted by telephone at: 718-822-3900.