Love … Biblically
“By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commands.”
1 John 5:2
Love everyone! This seems to be the universal motto. As individuals have considered how they are to live under this motto, it has taken on more and more meaning. Unfortunately, it has taken on more than it should. Now, ‘Love everyone!’ means, ‘Tolerate everyone!’ Even if what they are doing or saying is wrong, you are expected to keep quite. After all, what is right for them may not be right for you. Dialogue which pursues objective truth has been replaced with superficial subjectivism. True love gets lost in this environment.
What does it mean to truly love someone? Does it mean that we support them no matter what they do or say? Does love rule out the words, ‘You are wrong’? God would certainly say no. Loving others is described in the verse above; in it we see that love is founded upon our love for God. As we love God and live obediently to His commands, we find ourselves truly loving others. You can’t express genuine love for others while turning a blind eye to God’s Word.
It’s interesting to note that in God’s commands we realize what loving others looks like. For instance, God commands us to:
• ‘Be devoted to one another . . . give preference to one another’ (Romans 12:10)
• ‘Accept one another’ (Romans 15:7)
• ‘Admonish (rebuke) one another’ (Romans 15:14)
• ‘Serve one another’ (Galatians 5:13)
• ‘Forgive one another’ (Ephesians 4:32)
• ‘Be subject to one another’ (Ephesians 5:21)
• ‘Do not lie to one another’ (Colossians 3:9)
• ‘Bear with one another’ (Colossians 3:13)
• ‘Encourage one another’ (1 Thessalonians 5:11)
• ‘Confess your sins to one another’ (James 5:16)
• ‘Be hospitable to one another’ (1 Peter 4:9)
• ‘Stimulate one another to love and good deeds’ (Hebrews 10:24)
Loving God and keeping His commands actually preserves the environment which is necessary for true love. Love involves accepting others while pointing them to the character of Christ. Love involves forgiving others while holding them accountable to the Word of God. Love involves supporting others while stimulating them to good deeds.
Love Everyone . . . Biblically.