1 Corinthians 13:5
Love is neither rude, nor selfish,
nor provoked; thinks no evil.
To Love like Christ is to always put the other person first. Even on the cross, He wasn't thinking of Himself, for He asked God His Father to forgive the ones who had put Him there. In their unmitigated refusal to believe, categorically denying that He was The Messiah Who had been prophesied as testified by the prophets, the religious leaders, scribes and the Roman leader in that place took part in a mock trial.
He was questioned, but gave minimal answers. He was whipped to the point where His back was in shreds. He was pummeled on His face repeatedly by the guards. His beard was pulled out of His face. A crown of thorns was forced into the top of His head, causing the blood to rush down His face and His neck.
A scarlet robe was thrown over His shoulders and back. And when the blood dried, they ripped the robe off of His back, which caused the newly formed scabs to open, allowing fresh blood to run down His back and His legs.
On that day Love ran red. The Love of God in Christ did not fight back. He raised no hands nor fists in His own defense. The Love of God in Christ did not talk back to His tormenters. He spoke nothing. The Love of God in Christ did not cry out until He was on the cross, until Life was leaving His body.
This is our example of how to Love like Christ when being tormented, teased, judged, condemned by the world for our faith in The Name of Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior.
Say nothing. Think The Love of God in Christ. For there is no room in the body of Christ for revenge. There is no room to play tit-for-tat games. Nor is there room in this body of which we are a part of for paybacks. There is no room for offenses; we cannot allow ourselves to be easily provoked, nor should we lose our temper and try to defend ourselves.
Speak forgiveness for every little offense and every major offense. Think forgiveness. Think about how much we have been forgiven. And still are being forgiven when we mess up. Because mess up we will. But even then we admit the imperfection to the one we have spoken against (if possible); admit the offense to God and ask forgiveness for it, then try not to do that again (whatever the offense may have been).
To Love like Christ is to think of others before yourself. When Jesus sat down at Jacob's well in Samaria, He was tired and needed to rest. But He also knew that the woman He would be speaking with needed to hear His Word and drink His water more than He needed a break and a drink.
This Love of God in Christ is for anyone who asks for it. Many people want to go to heaven, but not everyone wants to go through Christ Jesus. That's why we need "to be about The Father's business": telling people about the Love of Christ. That there's only one Way to get to heaven and that's through the blood of Christ which washes away all of our sins when we believe that He died for us, overcame death for us and walked into a new life for us.
We need to pray for each other to have more Strength in God through Christ. We need to pray for one another to have a walk so faithful and true that The Love of God in Christ is evident to those who see us, speak to us, follow us, watch us, and hear us. We need to pray that our words are sweet, our attitudes are humble, and our thoughts are focused on the beauty of God's Word.
"Lord, help us to Love like You. Unselfishly, unconditionally; wisely and compassionately. Thank You for Your Holy Spirit, Who helps us to guard our mouths and our hearts, that nothing wicked may enter our hearts and then flow out of our mouths. Lord, if we are going to speak before we think, may our minds and our thoughts always be on You, of You, that The Word given in due time may be Your Word spoken in Your Love to the ones who need to hear It. Thank You for Loving us the Way You Love us. Be our Strength to repel the fiery darts which try to get past our spiritual armor. Be glorified, Lord, by our words and our actions, that Your Name would be praised and Your kingdom increased. In Jesus' Name, Amen."
Philippians 4:8
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
