Life is filled with choices. You make choices all day long either to respond in love or react in anger. You might say, “I’m not angry, I’m just frustrated.” But what does it really look like to others? As a Christian leader, you are called to not simply be a follower of Jesus but you are called to discipleship: “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another. John 13:35 NASB.” The New Living Translation reads, “Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are My disciples.”
There are 4 things about this love that you need to know as a leader:
- It’s a love that comes from God. In other words, we can love because He first loved us.
- It’s a love that gives. There are a lot of takers, but we are to be givers. Philippians 2:3-7a says, “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself.”
- It is a love that forgives. Do we wait on our own feelings to forgive? No, this is a faith move. We are to forgive as God in Christ forgives. “Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. Eph 4:32 NASB.”
- It’s a love that covers. “Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all transgressions. Proverbs 10:12 NASB.” This love does not go around exposing each other’s sins.
Take Action: Commit daily to love Jesus’ way.