Tuesday, March 23, 2010

The Nature Of Love

1 John 4 - "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and loves God."

I often wonder what it means to love. I throw the word around a lot. In fact, any friend of mine -- whether online or in person -- will usually hear it from me. It's my standard closing, along with "Take care!" and "God bless!" Sometimes I have been told that I say it too much; that if I say it to everyone, then I have watered it down, and it can't be truly believed.

I don't know if that's true. Surely there are some people who I prefer to hang out with more than others, simply due to common interests or personal styles. However, like I said in the "Unity" post, even those things shouldn't keep us apart as brothers and sisters in Christ. Okay, so I might not have much in common with a janitor or a fireman or a soccer mom, but if we all believe in Christ we are required -- in fact, commanded -- to love each other.

Does love just sit there like a stone? No. Love does things. It has to be made. To say that I, soon-to-be college graduate, loves the farmer or the janitor but I don't spend time with them or care for them, then have I really loved them? I'm not saying that we are required to get along perfectly with everyone. I think it's fine to admit when we are outside of our comfort zones. But what I think is important is to step outside of our comfort zones, to seek relationships with those who we would never talk to if not for the bond of Christ. I think this is the way the world will know we are his.

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