“I do not receive honor from men. But I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you. I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive. How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God? John 5:41-44
Jesus spoke these words to the Jews who were upset because He healed a man on the Sabbath who had been sick for thirty-eight years. They were persecuting Jesus and even trying to kill Him because He restored people to health on the Sabbath. They did not have the love of God in them as they put their rules over the welfare of the people. They were more concerned about their reputation than helping others. They were legalists instead of being lovers of God’s people.
He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes. 1 John 2:9-11
We have to be careful that we, like the Jews are not walking in darkness because we are blinded by legalism, which would cause us to have a lack of love for others. We live in God’s light when we love each other and prefer each other, always seeking the best for others. Our love for each other should be so impassioned that we would even lay down our lives for each other. Love is willing to suffer and gives of self enthusiastically.
And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.” Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 1 Peter 4:8-10
Loving is not easy. Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 13 that if we have a great gift of prophecy, faith that moves mountains or even if we give our bodies sacrificially, but with no love then whatever we do means nothing. I want to be clear that when we love we will give, but when we give that doesn’t mean we love. I have seen so many times where people give to be lauded and to have their names in the newspapers as they want to be honored by men. That is not love. That is selfish giving. They do not truly love the ones to whom they give. Loving God’s way is not a duty, but a privilege. It is not selfish, and it goes against our nature.
Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
What Paul describes as love is not what the world calls love. The world’s love seeks to please self, while God’s love suffers for others. His definition of love makes me realize that I am not loving God’s way, which can only be done through His Spirit and not my own strength. Love rejoices in the truth without being irritable, and never gives up, always walking in faith and full of hope. God’s love will last forever even in a society where there seems to be no love.
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