Pastor Jose V.
Velasco
Read: Matthew
5:43-48
This is a continuation of the preceding
reflection. From the context of our Bible reading we can understand that what
Jesus meant when He enjoined “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is
perfect”, was to be perfect like God in love. To Jesus the model of our loving
must be that of God. But how can we have an idea of that love? We can know it
in Jesus Christ because He is the image of the invisible God (Col. 1:15). He
reflects all the nature of God (Col. 1:19, 2:9), including His Love. Hence, He
could say, “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you”
(Jn. 15:12).
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| Photo by: Destiny East Gate Ministries |
How would we characterize God’s love as
revealed in Jesus and His words? If we are to love like God does, it is
important that we know this.
First, it is unconditional. It is free. Many
think they will earn God’s favor by their good deeds and character. If this is
true no one would ever obtain God’s love because even the best of us is an
unworthy sinner. The prodigal son planned to offer his services to his father
to earn his father’s welcome back into the home. But before the son could do
this, the father has already welcomed him (Lk. 15:17-20). God loves the sinner without
any strings attached (Rom. 5:8) God also wants us to love unconditionally. Unlike
a politician who may be very outgoing to get votes. And it is so hard to love a
person who is proud, belligerent, selfish and uncaring. We think they do not
deserve to be loved. But Jesus commands, “Love your enemies and pray for those
who persecute you” (Mt. 5:44). We love even the undeserving because they, too,
are God’s children and He loves them also.
Second, God’s love gives generously. “For
God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son” (Jn. 3:16).
Jesus was God’s greatest and best gift to us. But He also gives us all our
other material and spiritual needs. He gave even our lives. If we are to love
like God we must also be generous in giving. But giving does not only include
money and other material things. The Good Samaritan who rescued the helpless
victim of robbery gave his time, his first-aid skill and his money (Lk.
10:33-37). He even sacrificed his business agenda for the day. And God gave the
greatest sacrifice, His Son, to save us. In like manner we must also sacrificially
serve the needy. Serving the needs of the destitute and suffering is a tangible
expression of our love for them. Jesus summed up His mission by saying, “The
Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a
ransom for many” (Mt. 20:28). And yet Jesus said that when we serve the poor
and needy we serve God also (Mt.25:40, 45).
Third, God’s love is forgiving. God is like
the father of the prodigal son who forgave his son unconditionally. Jesus also
forgave the adulterous woman (Jn. 8:11). Then when Jesus was hanging on the
cross He prayed for the forgiveness of His torturers. We must also forgive
people who offend and do wrong to us (Mt. 6:14-15).
You may be saying agape love is too
idealistic and impossible for us. You are right. Humanly speaking we can never fulfill
it. But with God it is possible. First, God pours “out his love into our hearts
by the Holy Spirit” (Rom. 5:5). Second, He enables us to practice it. He does
this when we are truly connected to Him in faith. Of course, our love is still
imperfect because of our human frailty. But God is slowly working in us to
perfect it unto eternity.
Prayer: Lord, fill me with your love that I may be able to love others as
you would love them. In the name of your Son Jesus Christ whom you sent to the
world because of your love. Amen.
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