He was feeling unwell from the bronchial infection his body was fighting and his back had been stiff and painful for a few days. Now in his early 50’s, it has to be tough knowing his family is relying on him for the business and no matter how he feels, the work has to get done. I’m sure on days like yesterday, he just wants to forget all about it- but he can’t. Not only is the business relying on him, but also his wife who just had a hip replacement and is not allowed to bend at the hip for weeks.
There I was visiting when his wife needed to have her socks and shoes put on. Obviously she can’t do it since she is not allowed to bend that far, but there was no complaint, rolling eyes, or even a grimace from her hubby when he bent down on his knee in front of her (while I watched!), put on her socks and then her shoes as gently as possible. To me, that ‘picture’ is how I see love. Though he was sick and in pain, he still knelt down to help the wife of his youth, the one who usually works just as hard- side by side with him, but who is now healing. I can’t get that picture out of my head.
That’s love.
I think that’s how we’re supposed to love one another in the body of Christ. We, the church (not the building but the people) are to be one in the Lord (1Cor. 12:12 ). No matter what is happening in our own lives, we are called to love one another. Does that mean we may have to humbly get on our knees to help someone- without grumbling, eye rolling, or making it obvious we don’t like it? Yes!
(from TLB)
(Jesus said) I demand that you love each other as much as I love you. Jh. 15:12
Dear friends, let us practice loving each other, for love comes from God and those who are loving and kind show that they are the children of God, and that they are getting to know him better. But if a person isn’t loving and kind, it shows that he doesn’t know God- for God is love. 1Jh. 5:7,8
Little children, let us stop just saying we love people; let us really love them, and show it by our actions. Then we will know for sure, by our actions, that we are on God’s side… 1Jh 3:18 ,19
…This is one way to prove that your love is real, that it goes beyond mere words. 2Cor. 8:8
Jesus was very clear that we need to love one another as He loves us. Notice that it was a demand or commandment. Does that ‘get your back up’? We don’t like to be told what to do, but if we just think about who said it- the man who suffered and died for our sins- the man who laid down his own life for love of us- the man who got down to wash his disciples feet- then I don’t think the connotation is the same. Jesus led by example.
Practicing is an action repeated until it becomes habit. Showing love by our actions means we can’t just say ‘I love you’ or think it in our hearts and leave it at that. We are to prove our love by our caring actions towards one another. This could mean doing work someone is unable to do, helping them get through a tough time, or scrubbing their filthy, callused feet. It is our actions of love that prove our words to be true. Without the backing of our caring and kind actions, the words are just that- empty words, without substance. In that case, our love is not real and the love of God is not in us. Ouch! Those are strong words. Love in action: love is action!
Do you want to really love people the way Jesus wants you to? Peter writes how:
(*A good life full of God’s kindness and peace full of rich blessings, etc) But to obtain these* gifts, you need more than faith; you must work hard to be good… For then you must learn to know God better and discover what he wants you to do. Next, learn to put aside your own desires so that you will become patient and godly, gladly letting God have his way with you.
This will make possible the next step, which is for you to enjoy other people and to like them, and finally you will grow to love them deeply. The more you go on in this way, the more you will grow strong spiritually and become fruitful and useful to our Lord Jesus Christ. 2Pt. 1:5-8 (TLB)
Aha! The way to a fruitful, spiritually strong life...