Inspired By Love for Life: True Disciples of Jesus Follow His Way

…Everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.  
John 13:35

It’s the greatest commandment. So great, in fact, it encompasses all of the other laws and commandments within its embrace and is mentioned in each of the four Gospels in the New Testament canon (Matthew 22; Mark 12; Luke 10; and John 13): to love God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength and to love your neighbors as yourself.

Truthfully, the charge to His disciples to love one another was not a novel teaching at the time, even though we attribute Love with Jesus because God so loved the world (John 3:16) and confirmed through Jesus laying down his life for us (1 John 3:16). The command to love was written in the Torah hundreds of years before the gospels, in both Leviticus (~538-332 BC/BCE) and Deuteronomy (~700-500 BC/BCE):

Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, 
but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD. 
Leviticus 19:18

Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 
Deuteronomy 6:5

Yet, when we observe many self-professing Christians in our world today, we don’t always find love. Oftentimes although these Christians may believe they are speaking and doing what is “right” in accordance with their beliefs (which, as followers of Jesus Christ must certainly include His greatest commandments); in truth, when held up through the lens of love as written in the scriptures, the methods and the chosen words/actions do not truly align with the qualities of love, including fruits of the Holy Spirit that come forth from love.

There is no blame to be cast for we are all human and at one time or another have reacted in a way that wasn’t the most optimal loving option in the moment. Even if the intention was “love” it doesn’t mean that it was pure or that the fruit will be good. It may be that we need a little reminder of what love *really* is so we can infuse more glorious loving energy into the world to uplift us, bringing much needed healing from sea to shining sea.

Through the peace and grace of Christ and inspired by love for life, to follow is the Love in which Jesus said would prove to all who his true disciples were in the world. It is wise for believers to listen closely.

Let’s start with the secular definition of love, which includes similar concepts of the scriptures. From M-W.com, love is both a noun and a verb: strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties; affection and tenderness, also based on admiration, benevolence, or common interests; warm attachment, enthusiasm, or devotion; unselfish and loyal with concern for the good of another; a brotherly concern for other; and adoration for God. As a verb, love means to hold dear and cherish; to feel a passion, devotion, or tenderness.

And in the scriptures, no verses define Love better than those in 1 Corinthians 13:

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails.

We need not only look to 1 Corinthians though, for the fullness of love’s glorious qualities, blessings, and good fruit are described throughout the Old and New Testaments. LOVE includes*:

Keeping oaths and covenants
Blessings; and curses turned into blessings
Endures forever
Unfailing
Just and righteous
Salvation
Goodness and truth
Faithfulness
Compassion, gracious, and slow to anger
Great peace
Covers all wrongs
Takes care in discipline (that is, spares the rod and does no harm)
Atonement of sin
Covers offenses
Friendship
Life, prosperity, and honor
Is as strong as death
Rests in God, grace, and peace
Receives instruction from God
Receives glorious wisdom that doesn’t fade away
Take care in discipline and keeps wisdom’s laws as a firm foundation of incorruption
Temperance, prudence, justice, and fortitude
Honorable wisdom
Enlightened hearts
Keeps the way of God
Filled with the law of God (love)
Pardons for sins by prayer
Servants of the holy one
Visiting the sick
Joining with neighbors in fidelity
Unfailing kindness
Compassion
Rejoices with singing
Doing good for all (even those who hate you)
Lending to all without expectation of receiving back
Forgiveness
Willingness to lay down one’s life, including for friends
Obeying the teachings of Jesus
Unity/oneness with God
Sincerity
Devotion and honoring one another above yourself
Fulfillment of “the law” to do no harm
Gentleness of spirit
Building up (not tearing apart or into pieces in division or separation)
Each part doing its work
Known by God
Patient, kind, and humble
Rejoices with the truth
Purity, understanding, patience, and kindness in the Holy Spirit
Earnestness
Cheerful generosity
Restoration, encouragement, of one mind, and living in peace
Humble service
Fruits of the spirit: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness
Holiness and blameless
Freely given glorious grace through the One God loves
Surpassing knowledge and fills to the measure of all fullness of God
Gentleness
Maturity and respect
Comforting and tenderness
Encouraging in heart and united with full riches of complete understanding
Binding together in perfect unity
Coming from a pure heart, good conscience, and a sincere faith
Temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and with endurance
Gives great joy and refreshes hearts
Receiving anointing of joy
Helping others
Doing good deeds
Being content with what you have
Showing proper respect to everyone
Sympathetic
Goodness and truthfulness in words
Covers a multitude of sins
Godliness and mutual affection
Children of God who do what is right and who love their brothers and sisters
Life
Empathetic to those in need
Actions and in truth
Coming from God
Fearless and without punishment
Grace, mercy, and peace

Through these scriptures we affirm what love is—both the characteristics and good fruit—and we can’t forget to include healing, alchemical transmutations (water into wine), and miracles as these were all done by Jesus through the Spiritual power of Love.

But these verses don’t shed light where the moral marker at the other end of love’s spectrum resides. For, throughout history, many evils and wicked words and deeds were done in “love” based on “righteous” judgment when the spirit within was not genuinely the love in which Jesus’ ministry taught.

We need look no further than the multitude of atrocities done in the “name of Jesus Christ” which stained the Holy Church during years of torturing, murder, and other egregious harms. These were in opposition of the true reflection of Jesus’ love.

Within the gospels we find the line of which love does not cross. This was demonstrated in the story of Jesus’ words and actions in the clearing of the temple courtyard (Mark 11 and John 2). In his righteous anger, Jesus cracked a handmade whip, scattering the livestock and overturned the moneychanger’s tables.

Having said that, “displays of righteous anger” are not included in the verses about love in the canon. In fact, love is attributed with being slow to reach a level of anger and forgives, covering all offenses and wrongs. So we do see a bit of a duality between Jesus’ actions in the temple courtyard and our understanding of what love is from the scriptures and His own ministry (for more discussion on this read my post from May 2 online and the chapter, “River of Life” in The Gospel of Joy).

The event provides us with a moral line drawn in the sand. This was the furthest in name of Love that the Son of God sent in Love went in actions against others. It affirmed His teaching that all of the Law and the Prophets are held within the greatest commandment to love (Matthew 22) as spoken by Jesus and affirmed by Apostle Paul in Galatians 5. It sets forth the boundary to clearly delineate for us where Love ends, and anti-Love (that is, everything that is not love and therefore not of God who sent Jesus as is written in John 3:16) begins.

What this specifically means in reality for Christians is if they go against any ONE of the Ten Commandments (holding idols or other gods higher than the One God; taking God’s name in vain; not keeping holy the Lord’s day; dishonoring their father or mother; killing; committing adultery; stealing; telling lies; coveting the property, jealousy of property, possessions, or spouses of another person), they are NOT one in love with God and are NOT acting in accordance with Jesus’ commandments. The spirit expressing through these actions is the OPPOSITE of love and is unholy.

This is a critical point of distinction for believers who strive to live their lives as true disciples of Jesus Christ, especially if they expect to enter the kingdom of heaven. For it was written in Matthew 7, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. The “will of my Father” Jesus spoke of is Love. In other words, “only the person who does the will of Love” will enter the kingdom of heaven.

While there may be times when “righteous anger” to the extent that Jesus demonstrated are God’s will, wisdom also reminds us that honoring others, showing respect, and peace are true reflections of Love. Therefore, always seek the most loving option and walk the path of the Most High for the greatest glory of love to be borne in outcomes.

Additionally, Jesus provided further direction to His disciples, “Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.” For if we love one another, God lives in us, and love is made complete in us (1 John 4:12), and we experience the completion of joy in Christ within (John 15).

And, just as clear from Jesus’ teachings, it is through the words and actions done in Love for each other that demonstrate we are One in mind and heart with Jesus, Himself, and true disciples bearing fruit from the True Vine (John 15). Not only does this lead to all of the good fruits and blessings from above, but we are also promised whatever we ask in the name of Jesus will be given to us (John 15).

Living a life of love amplifies abundance and joy into our own lives. It’s a win-win for everyone when the light of Love shines bright all across the Earth. So, what are you waiting for?

LOVE with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength starting right now.

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*Verses cited in list order: Deuteronomy 7:8 and Nehemiah 1:5; Deuteronomy 7:13 and Deuteronomy 23:5; 2 Chronicles 5:13; Psalm 6:4; Psalm 11:7; Psalm 17:7; Psalm 52:3; Psalm 89:24; Psalm 103:8; Psalm 119:165; Proverbs 10:12; Proverbs 13:24; Proverbs 16:6; Proverbs 17:9; Proverbs 17:17; Proverbs 21:21; Song of Songs 8:6; Wisdom 3:9; Wisdom 6:12; Wisdom 6:13; Wisdom 6:19; Wisdom 8:7; Sirach 1:14; Sirach 2:18; Sirach 2:19; Sirach 3:4; Sirach 4:15; Sirach 7:39; Sirach 27:18; Jeremiah 31:3; Lamentations 3:32; Zephaniah 3:17; Luke 6:27; Luke 6:35; Luke 7:47; John 10:17 and John 15:13; John 14:24; Romans 8:39; Romans 12:9; Romans 12:10; Romans 13:8-10; 1 Corinthians 4:21; 1 Corinthians 8:1; Ephesians 4:16; 1 Corinthians 8:3; 2 Corinthians 6:6; 2 Corinthians 8:8; 2 Corinthians 9:7; 2 Corinthians 13:11; Galatians 5:13; Galatians 5:22; Ephesians 1:4; Ephesians 1:6; Ephesians 3:19; Ephesians 4:2; Ephesians 4:15; Philippians 2:1; Colossians 2:2; Colossians 3:14; 1 Timothy 1:5; Titus 2:2; Philemon 1:7; Hebrews 1:9; Hebrews 6:10; Hebrews 10:24; Hebrews 13:5; 1 Peter 2:17; 1 Peter 3:8; 1 Peter 3:10; 1 Peter 4:8; 2 Peter 1:7; 1 John 3:10; 1 John 3:14; 1 John 3:17; 1 John 3:18; 1 John 4:7; 1 John 4:18; 2 John 1:3; and 2 John 1:6.