As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. 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 15:9-13
A story is told about a soldier who was finally coming home after having fought in Vietnam. He called his parents from San Francisco. “Mom and Dad, I’m coming home, but I’ve got a favor to ask. I have a friend I’d like to bring with me.” “Sure,” they replied, “We’d love to meet him.” “There’s something you should know,” the son continued, “he was hurt pretty badly in the fighting. He stepped on a land mine and lost an arm and a leg. He has nowhere else to go, and I want him to come live with us.” “I’m sorry to hear that, son. Maybe we can help him find somewhere to live.” “No, Mom and Dad, I want him to live with us.” “Son,” said the father, “you don’t know what you’re asking. Someone with such a handicap would be a terrible burden on us. We have our own lives to live, and we can’t let something like this interfere with our lives. I think you should just come home and forget about this guy. He’ll find a way to live on his own.”
At that point, the son hung up the phone. The parents heard nothing more from him. Weeks turned into months and months turned into years. Years later they received a call from the San Francisco police saying their son had passed away and they needed to come identify the body. The grief-stricken parents flew to San Francisco and were taken to the city morgue. They recognized him, but to their horror they also discovered something they didn’t know. Their son had only one arm and one leg.
Sometimes our love can be so self-centered. We love those who love us, those who benefit us. You know, if God operated by our definition of love, He’d only love those who were always kind to Him, always benevolent toward Him, always supportive of His work, always in agreement with His ideas, and people who were perfect. And by that standard, He’d love none of us.
But thankfully, our God loves every single person, no matter how scarred they are-inside and out. Jesus loves people not because of what they can do for Him, but despite what they do against Him.
When showing us what true love is, Jesus tells us to look at the love God has for Him, “As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you.” Then He commands us, “Continue ye in my love.” Despite what our world thinks, love isn’t a series of emotional highs and lows. Love isn’t a result of feelings, but is a choice.
Just as God loves Jesus, and Jesus loves us, so should we pass on that Christ-like love to others around us. Should we love the less fortunate and poor? Jesus loves us even though our wealth pales in comparison to His. Should we love the sinful and unsaved? Jesus loved us when we were lost, and continues loving us despite our sin. Should we love the outcast or misshapen? Jesus loves us even though we are far from His perfection.
You don’t love someone because they meet a certain set of requirements. You should love them because Jesus has loved you. In fact, Jesus loved you so much He gave His life for you. What love! Jesus gave us the pattern for love, now we must continue in His love.–By Dr. Paul Chappell
