LEADERSHIP-U Love

What is love? The word love is probably one of the most overused and misused words in the English language. You can use the same word to describe your feelings for a slice of chocolate cake and for the person you are married to. The world has many ideas about what Christian love means.

What is love? The world is not entirely wrong. As a Christ follower, we are called to love. The ultimate instruction that Jesus gives us is found in Mark 12:30-33, “ And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”

What is love? “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude or self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrong. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” – 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Hosea’s example The prophet Hosea was given an unprecedented calling from God to love. He tells the prophet to marry a harlot, an unfaithful woman. He literally calls Hosea to be an object lesson of God’s unfailing love for his wayward people. We are also called to be living object lessons of Christ’s love for humanity, regardless of their response to us.

Hosea’s example Hosea’s wife was a harlot. He bought her out of sex slavery. We don’t know for certain, but we see no evidence that Gomer acknowledges the love Hosea has shown her. Gomer leaves Hosea goes back to her life of bondage. Still, Hosea is not finished loving his wife. Hosea’s sacrificial love for Gomer makes no sense to this world. We are to love the unlovable, not just those who make us feel great about ourselves.

Not an act Romans 12:9-11 says, “Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.”

Love is not comfortable The world shouts that we do not love if we do not make them feel comfortable. Love is the opposite of comfortable. It stretches us. It challenges us to grow into better people. Don’t let the world tell you that you have to agree with the life choices of others in order to love. Celebrating the choice to sin is not love or acceptance, it is empty comfort.

Love does not condone sin Hosea loved his wife, but Hosea never condoned Gomer’s behavior. Jesus was a friend to sinners but he was never a friend to sin. He was nailed to the cross to rescue us from sin. He loved people where they were at, but never intended for them to remain in their pit. Love helps the trapped escape.

Back to Hosea Often it is the people who are the most broken that are the most difficult to love. We don’t know for certain if Gomer ever broke free from her spiritual bondage and remained faithful to Hosea. Sometimes, as Christian Leaders we never get the opportunity to see the full results of our love on this side of heaven.

Back to Hosea Because of Hosea’s obedience in love, he left an incredible picture for all of us of the love God has for his people. Even when we are unrepentant and lost in our sin His love is consistent, His love never fails.

Jesus’ unfailing love If Christ, who is perfect and holy can love us, and die for us while we were  still in our sin, how much more should we be willing to love those he has placed in our life! Let us be living examples of his redeeming, forgiving, healing love.

Jesus’ unfailing love John 13:34-35 makes it clear:  “So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” Christian leader, the way that you consistently show love to both your brothers and sisters in the faith, and the rest of the world is paramount to revealing Christ. As a Christ follower, our imperfect love has one ultimate purpose, to reveal the perfect unfailing love of Jesus Christ. Love others on purpose.