Christian Writers Circle

Maturity in Christ through Love
by Judy Hitson

John 13: 34 Amplified I give you a new commandment, that you should love one another; just as I have loved you, so you too should love one another.  

What comes to mind when you consider how God loved you?

God loved us so much He sent us Jesus, John 3: 16. His Father love is giving.
Note the love of Christ in Eph. 5: 2 NASB And walk in love, just as Christ also loved you, and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma. His love is sacrificial.

One way the Lord ministered His love was like spiritual surgery, painful but good. Reading and meditating on James 4: 8a, I was captivated that when we draw close to the Lord, He will draw close to us. One day conviction pierced my heart as the Spirit prompted me to read on. It was like a can of worms opened. James 4: 8 NASB Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts you double-minded. During a pity party, I wanted God’s comfort. Stunned that He shifted attention to my sinful ways, I wept for days confessing my sins. He revealed I was spiritually stuck. If I was going to love Him as He loved me, I John 4: 19, I needed His love to transform me and enable me to follow in His steps.

Jesus’ example:

I Peter 2: 21-25 NASB 21 For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, 22 WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH; 23 and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; 24 and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. 25 For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.

How are you doing following in His steps?  

In my situation, I grieved that my ways are not His ways, Is. 55: 8b. Reacting in anger, He called me to respond in love. it was vital to invite Him into the rooms of my heart to cleanse me from all unrighteousness, I John 1: 9; John 5: 16. It took times alone with God to see my sinful ways and times with trusted women in the faith to be healed. Through confession and repentance, I learned by His Spirit, we can live as a righteous man and be examples of His love on earth as it is in heaven.

God’s love:

I Cor. 13: 4-8a NASB Love is patient, love is kind, and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered , does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails…..

This is something only God can do in and through us to walk in the Spirit and walk in love, Gal. 5: 22-23; Eph. 5: 2.

How is your walk in love?

Love is the mark of a disciple of Christ. John 13: 35 NASB By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.

Prayer: Father in heaven bless us to grow to maturity in Christ through Your love by Your Spirit. Amen.