Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. And do everything with love. (1 Cor. 16:13-14, NLT)
Jesus did everything in love. Therefore, as his disciple, we must commit to doing everything in love. Jesus is our example and proof that even in our human condition, we can live in his pure love. Jesus shows us what healthy love looks like: respectful, equal, compassionate, with healthy boundaries, and in the abundance of his grace, blessings, and power. So how is this possible for us?
How Imperfect People Can Succeed
God knew his children needed tangible instructions and a way to learn from him once Jesus returned to heaven. God designated people to write down his Word throughout many centuries to help us. As you study God’s Word and learn about his heart, faithfulness, and mercy, you will feel his living Spirit through his Word.
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. (Heb. 4:12-13, NIV)
God instructs and warns us. How merciful is God to warn us about the bumps and traps of the enemy and our human preference toward pride? The verse at the blog’s beginning has five key aspects that help us understand the importance of following Christ’s example to “do everything in love.”
Five Key Aspects to Do Everything in Love
1. Be on Guard: Be on guard to keep Christ’s love in the forefront of your mind to shape your attitudes, words, and deeds. When you follow Christ’s ways to love others as he loved you, you extinguish the enemy’s arrows to tempt you to be all about yourself. It also keeps compassion in your mind if you need to bring correction or set healthy boundaries. You can bring life or death to a heart, even in correction, with your words, so be on guard.
2. Stand Firm in the Faith: We often think trials are happening to us rather than for us. Tests and trials reveal the strength and firmness of our faith and the areas we need to fortify. God already knows the level of our faith, so trust him to show you what to work on with Jesus. The only way to finish your race well with Jesus beside you is to keep learning about God by studying his word and growing in your personal relationship with Christ daily. Rely on Christ, and you can stand firm!
"But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world." (1 Peter 5:9, NIV)
"Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord." (1 Cor. 15:58, NIV)
"Conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel." (Phil. 1:27, NIV)
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. (Eph. 6:10-11, NIV)
3. Courage Comes from Confidence in Christ in You: Knowing, not just believing, you are a child of God and that Jesus loved you so much that he died for you should empower you with his courage. The apostle Paul shares his confidence and courage in Philippians 1:6, NLT. “I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”
Accepting the fierce, unconditional love of Jesus to die for you in your imperfect condition and the reality that you will choose to sin should empower you with confidence and courage. Let Christ's courage flow from you. "By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence." (2 Peter 1:3, NLT) Trust Jesus and live in his bold courage!
4. Be Strong: How can we be strong enough to remain faithful to Jesus, as he is faithful to us? We know it is possible from the lives of the disciples, the apostle Paul, and the stories of Noah, David, Ester, Mary, and many more. The apostle Paul went through many tests of his faith and during one of his trials, he penned these words.
But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Cor. 12:9-10, NIV)
Compared to God, we are weak. However, being strong is much easier when we rely on God’s strength. When we see God as our fortress, we can trust his strength even if we endure a storm. Before David, the shepherd became king; he spent years on the run for his life. Yet, David wrote these words.
I love you, Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. (Psalms 18:1-2, NIV)
5. Do Everything in Love: Christ’s love must flow through his disciples and be evident in their fruits. When you choose to be a disciple of Jesus, you devote your life to learning his ways. You surrender completely, remain faithful and loyal, and live in total obedience regardless of the cost. The perfect, unconditional love of God and Jesus came at the highest cost. Following Christ’s example is the mandate on all disciples of Christ, do everything in love!
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. (1 John 4:7-8, ESV)
Imagine what the world would be like if we all loved like Jesus. No homeless, orphans, rape, abuse, killing, wars, or evil. Although we will not see this picture in our imperfect human condition, we have the promise that one day we will all dwell in the perfect love of Christ.
God created you and me for this time and to fulfill our part and mission in his grand plan. Will you follow Christ’s example and do everything in love, or will you operate from your imperfect love? What is your choice?
