PASTOR'S CORNER

Theme of the Year: Covenant of Peace (Isaiah 54:10)

Theme of the Month: Love One Another (John 13:34)

Topic: Love as Practiced in The New Testament Church (Part 1)

Love for mankind was the major reason that propelled our Lord Jesus Christ to leave His most exalted position to come in human form to show us how to live a life of true love. He demonstrated the measure of love expected to be shown by believers. Of course, there was love on earth before Jesus came to live in human form on earth. He came to raise the standard of love. In the days of Old Testament, it was reasonable and acceptable to love those who love you and hate those who hate you. But Jesus came to raise the bar such that love to other people should not be predicated on conditions.

Going by the theme of this month – Love One Another, I want you to sincerely answer this question in your mind. Who is the “one another” that you must love and how do you show and live in “love” we are talking about? If the “one another” you care to show love is that brother or sister that meets your needs, then you have not started. Jesus thought us a good lesson in this area with one of his parables, the parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37. We found that the “one another” that was shown love was never known to the Good Samaritan. Jesus concluded the parable in verse 37 thus “The teacher of the Law answered, "The one who was kind to him." Jesus replied, "You go, then, and do the same."

Apostle Peter shows us in 1 Peter 4:8-11 the basic ways to express love as believers. The passage states how Christians are to live with one another and the expected results from that way of life. Basically, Christians are called to love one another; and we can love because God loves us first (1 John 4:19). God loves us so we can love. So how do we love? 1 Peter 4:8 says “And above all things have fervent love for one another, for "love will cover a multitude of sins." The original Greek word for love here of course is agape. Agape love is to be always thinking of the betterment of the other; and so, we do things for one another to help each other not for self-gains.

Agape love should always be our motive for doing things for one another. 1 Peter 4:10-11 tells us to serve one another in the church family with the “gifts” the Holy Spirit provides. Because Jesus Christ is building His church, every Christian is given a spiritual gift to serve others for Christ’s Church. There are various gifts for the needs of the church. A few gifts are noted here in 1 Peter 4; we can note more in other Scriptures.

But let us be careful in our wants and doings; as Christians we are still battling against our sinful natures; watch out for ego and pride as we use our gifts and minister. It is so easy to praise people instead of God when people do things for us. As we love and serve one another we must depend on Jesus Christ and give the glory to Jesus Christ. The essence of our service is that God will be honored when we sincerely serve others with our gifts and abilities. I pray for you that God will instill His Agape love in all of us, so that all you do to others will bring praise and glory to God. God bless you.