A Conquering Love

John 13: 34, 35: " A new commandment I give unto you, that you love one another;
as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love one to another."

There are Christians who seem to have misread this verse.
They apparently see: " By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have no possessions."
Or maybe "…
Or "… that you read and carry your Bibles."
Or perhaps,… that you have sound doctrine."
But Jesus said none of these things.
He said that there is one major thing that will convince the world that we are His disciples,
and that is the love we have for one another.
We are not the disciples of a theory or doctrine or institution, but we are disciples
of the loving Lord Jesus.
His love led Him to give His life for us, and that kind of love is commanded between Jesus' followers.

People may ask how we conceive of the love of God.
The answer is found in 1 John 3: 16: " In this we perceive the love of God,
in that he laid down his life for us."
And because of this John says, " So we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren."
This is the supreme love, Jesus told us, for " greater love has no man than this,
that a man lay down his life for his friends." (John 15: 13)
Love is the essence of discipleship.
It is the wall that surrounds a disciple, the roof that protects him, and the ground which supports him.

The Bible says emphatically that though I speak with tongues of men and of angels,
have all wisdom, make tremendous sacrifices, give my body to be burned, and relinquish all I own,
I am worth nothing if I have not done them in love.

Most of us would have to admit that we know very little about actually loving people.
We know that we have often loved because of the benefits that come to us.

Divine love is impartial.
It loves the repulsive and the attractive.
It loves the beggar the wealthy.

Is this love really possible?
And does it work?
When I give myself for the sake of another, when I " fall into the ground and die"
in order to bear fruit, when I deny myself and take up the cross and follow Jesus,
does it make a revolutionary difference?
Or would it turn me into a blind fanatic rushing from one good deed to another
and getting trampled by the strong?

This love is possible, and it is very practical.
It does not come naturally, nor does it come instantly in a rededication service
or some particular experience.
Real love comes from God, who is love, and it is developed in the hard school of life
over many years.
There may be a crisis of appropriating God's love, but a process expressing love follow as
or it all becomes an abscess.

The Bible speaks clearly on how to acquire and develop God's love.
First, it tells me that love is a fruit of the Spirit. (Galatians 5: 22)
As every Christian has God's Holy Spirit living within, every Christian may have this love.

Ephesians: 18 gives one of the few commands about the Holy Spirit in the New Testament:
" Be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit."
The filling produces an overflow that touches other people.

The Scriptures also teach that prayer will develop this love.
Paul is our example: " I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ…
That he would grant you… to be strengthened by his Spirit…
and I know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge." (Ephesians 3:14, 16, 19)

As the Lord blesses the person prayed for, He will also work in your heart.
We are sometimes partly responsible for weaknesses of others and weaknesses in a brother's life
may reflect weaknesses in our own.
If I have been spiritually discerning of anything wrong, through prayer God will answer
and change the situation.
We have many examples of this in Scripture, and we are exhorted to pray for all men,
even our enemies, said the Lord Jesus.

Another helpful step is to pray with the person concerned.
Praying not as a superior, but as one who truly loves.
If you are having trouble with someone in your church or group, try to pray with him
about various needs and joys.
This effort to share and understand will be rewarded by fellowship and a growing love.
The love of God knows the best and worst about people, but His love sympathizes and assists.

Perhaps, there are intense problems handicapping the person.
Poor health may be dragging that person down
Background environments or heredity may still control the individual.
Circumstances… Problems
Praying together can open the channel of love and wisdom from God to both.

Belief in the sovereignty of God enables us to rest in the confidence that God is in charge
and in control of all that's going on in the earth.

Sometimes the devils seems menacingly near, but he is weak in comparison with
the God who is in charge of our lives.
Though Satan makes headway, he cannot overcome the Christian who is trusting God.
The Christian can say, " The Lord is in this," and look for the Lord's way out.
Philippians 1: 6 assures us that God has begun His works in us, and He will complete it.

Another way to develop love is to have a personal interest in the welfare of others.

This his shown by both words and deeds.
Sincere attention builds a bond that involves us in the lives of others.
If the personality of someone rubs you the wrong way, ask questions about
your common concerns and look for things to complement.
You'll find love sprouting from the interest, and you will probably receive love in return.

There are those who find it easy to make fun of people.
Such as teasing them about the shape of their ears, the style of clothes or their mannerisms.
Amy Carmichael said: " If I enjoy a joke at the expense of another,
if I can in any way slight another in conversation or even in thought, then I know nothing
of Calvary love.
If I belittle those whom I am called to serve, talk of their weak points in contrast
to what I think are my strong points;
If I adopt a superior attitude, forgetting " who made thee to differ?
What hast thou that thou didst not receive?
Then I know nothing of Calvary love."

Another way to develop love is to give something to another.

There is an old story of a husband and wife whose marriage was on the rocks.
The husband never remembered anniversaries or birthdays, and he was always complaining.
She became more and more discouraged.
One day, he inexplicably decided to bring her some flowers.

It was so unusual that when he came to the door and held out flowers she wept hysterically.
" What a miserable day!" She moaned.
" I've been having trouble with the children all day, the clothes washer broke,
I burned the supper, and now you've come home drunk."

Don't wait too long to rebuild a relationship that your gift cannot be believed.
Give something of practical help or a momento that shows you care.
Sometimes, we are blind to the plain words of Scripture.
Jesus commanded us to help one another.
" Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren,
ye have done it unto me."
(Matthew 25:40)

This is a revolutionary passage of Scripture, and if we let it penetrate our minds daily,
it would change our lives.

Our attitude toward the weak and the needy, God says reveals our attitude toward His Son.
This should lead us to repentance.
" He who loves not his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?"
(1 John 4: 20)

And we must remember the Golden Rule!
" Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you,
do ye even so unto them: for this is the law and the prophets." (Matthew 7: 12)
This verse offers us a simple check on our speaking and acting.
Would I enjoy this if it were directed at me?
This would eliminate cruel gossip and destructive criticism, and would spare us from future judgment.

The Bible tells us we are to correct someone in the spirit of love when it is necessary.
" Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault ye which are spiritual" -- which includes
a few Christians --- " restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself,
lest thou also be tempted." (Galatians 6: 1)

If you can go to someone to correct them without a pang in your heart, then you know nothing
of Calvary love.
The love depicted in 1 Corinthians 13 allows no rejoicing hearts over the failure of another person.
Love never speaks with the attitude: " I told you so; you should have listened to me!"
Love sorrows with those who mourn, and lifts up those who fall..

In His love, God can transform sorrows and failure so we can help and comfort others.
God, says Paul, "Conforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them
which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God."
(2 Corinthians 1: 4)

To rebuke and exhort another Christian is one of the most difficult things to do properly.
It is easier to overlook the fault, but love must correct at times.
If I'm afraid to speak the truth lest I lose affection or lest the one concerned should say,
" You do not understand," or because I fear I might lose my reputation for kindness;
if I put my own name before the other's highest good, then I know nothing of Calvary love.

Love acts.
When we see a little child running toward a busy street, we do not just stand there
and suggest: " Wouldn't it be better to stay on the sidewalk?"
No!
We move into action.
We grab the child back from the street in order to save its life.

The Bible says that we are to snatch men from the fires of hell.
To think such action is too drastic is a misconception of love.

The love of Jesus was not of the Hollywood variety.
He is loved led Him to serve.
It was love that sent Jesus into the Temple to clean up the mercenary mess
and to chase out the greedy merchants with violence.
It was love for righteousness.
It was love for those who were being cheated.
His love led to action all through His life.

Love grows when it is exercised.
Supplying all-conquering love is God's part; expressing love is our part.
As we walk with God, He will make us confident " of this very thing,
that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ."
(Philippians 1: 6)
And God will work in the lives of others by love, for His perfect love never fails.

Sermon adapted by Dr. Harold L White