Do you consistently display love to all the people in your life because of a commitment to do so ? Or is Christ’s command neutralized by acting on unloving feelings in unpleasant moments.

The unequivocal requirement to love God and man (“…You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,…and…love your neighbor as yourself….”) is reinforced in Romans 13:8-9, “…he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. For this, ‘You shall not commit adultery, … murder, … steal, … covet‘, and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ … love therefore is the fulfillment of the Law.” The Law reveals God’s holy character as the imperative for our character. “God is Love”. Surely this reveals how desperately we need The Savior and His empowering Holy Spirit!

Obedience to Jesus Christ is always love; love is always obedience. Disobedience is always unlove; unlove is always disobedience. Love for other people is the way we love God through Jesus Christ. There is no effective rationalization around this revelation. “Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me,” (Matt. 25:40). “The one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.“ I John 4:20.

This love requirement isn’t referring to the people who are consistently loving to us! No, but to the “enemies” of our peace, our rights, our dignity; to the controlling, angry, irritable, stressful, fearful people who demand their rights but don’t consider ours. Those people!

Really!!?? I sacrifice my need for love and validation, in order to love and validate those people!!?? I waste my life on an unloving relationship that deceives and betrays me, with the possibility that I may never receive the love and validation that I need!!?? “Yikes!“ The self-interested, self-preserving ME rises up and says “NO!!! Don’t do that! That‘s foolish”. And most people, following the wisdom of the world, don’t.

Can we hear His “still small voice”? “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you….” (Luke 6:27) And, “he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who has found his life shall lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake shall find it.” (Matt. 10:38-39) True saving belief (Life) necessarily embraces “the cross“ (death) of self sacrificed Love.

“And this is His commandment (singular tense, the Father‘s one command), that we believe in the name of His son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He (the Lord Jesus Christ’s one command, John 15:12) commanded us.” (I John 3:23) This kind of commitment to and obedience of Love is the proof and assurance of saving faith in Christ.

Death necessarily precedes resurrection. Resurrection necessarily follows death. There is no resurrection Life in Christ until the cross of love is embraced in death. But oh! the freedom of the New Life on the other side of the commitment to the cross of love, following Christ! Avoid it no longer! Leap by faith into obedience. Repent of your self protective unlove, confess your need of the resurrected Savior, commit to wholeheartedly being His disciple with a death to die, and a Life of love to live; Embrace that death steadfastly, practice His Life of Love daily, and rejoice in Him Livingly.

Rae Edlin