John 15:13 (Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.)

There is no greater love than the love Christ has for humanity, displayed on the cross, where He gave His life so that humanity might be saved.

He chose a cursed life and transferred His blessings to us. He chose death and gave us His life, which is eternal. This is the spiritual exchange that transpired on the cross. It is those who have eyes that will see and those who have ears that will understand.

Whoever wants to understand true love should look at Jesus Christ hanging on the cross: the price He paid for the salvation of humanity, the stripes He received that we might have peace, the crown of thorns that broke the curse of Adam, and His death to save mankind from destruction.

All these He did while we were still His enemies, so that we might become His friends. How do you reciprocate that kind of love? It is by loving people the way He loves you.

Love is what differentiates the people of Jesus from those who belong to the devil. Man was created in God’s image, which reflects His love. No other creature has this attribute. Even the angels in heaven do not have it and cannot exhibit it. No wonder God told the children of Israel not to provoke the Angel of His presence, lest He refuse to forgive them.

It is love that invokes mercy and activates forgiveness. If you do not love, you cannot forgive. That is why all the agents of the devil cannot forgive, for they lack the love that produces forgiveness.

Love is God’s gift to man. If you do not have the love of God in your heart, how can you bring yourself to love others?

If you do not love Jesus, who died for you, how can you love those for whom He died?

It is very difficult to exhibit this kind of love where hatred and envy are the order of the day, even when competition reigns among the children of God. This is the mark that shows love is lacking among the brethren.

Love is the greatest of the spiritual gifts. Even if you sacrifice yourself without love, it amounts to selfishness, for some do so only to win the favour of the crowd.

Any church where love is absent is nothing more than a cult of witchcraft, and whatever rituals or prayers are offered without love are nothing more than satanism.

How do you become like Christ when you love only those who love you or give only to those whom you think will repay you?

You are not different from unbelievers if you love or greet only those who do the same to you. A step above them is to love those who do not show love to you and to give to those whom you know can never repay you. This is how we resemble our Father in heaven and can call Him Abba, Father.

There is love in sharing. If you have two coats, give one to the person who has none. This is the commandment of the Lord to His children: give without expecting anything in return, and do good to those who hate you. This is when you will be like your Father in heaven.

This kind of love is rare, for the natural man thinks of himself first before thinking of others. Unless the flesh is nailed to the cross and subdued by its power, it will be impossible for the natural man to be like God.

God wants us to be perfect, as He is perfect. This kind of perfection can only be found in the character of Jesus Christ.

To become the image of Christ, you must have His character, and His nature must be imparted to you at the foot of His cross. It is those who have been there who are given this opportunity.

The judgment of God is connected to your relationship with others. “As you have done to these people, you have also done it to Me.” Even if He is not physically present, He is present with the person you are supposed to protect.

If you cover the nakedness of your neighbours, you have done it to Jesus Christ. If you feed your neighbours, you feed Jesus Christ. If you hate your neighbours, you hate Jesus Christ. If you do not love the person created in His image, how can you love the Creator whom you have not seen?

Fasting and prayer will not substitute for love. If you pray in new tongues but do not love others, your prayers are in vain. Sacrifice cannot take the place of love. If you cannot do these simple things, how do you expect to do the greater ones?

This is how we know those who belong to God’s side and those who are on the opposite side, those who have the Spirit of God and those who are possessed by demons.

Prayer:

Father Lord, give me the grace to love You more than life itself, and grant me the grace to love the unlovable. In Jesus’ name, amen.