If That Isn’t Love

            The love that Christ has for man cannot be underestimated. He died for us to save us from eternal death. Jesus is the example of love that should be replicated in our lives. There are many examples of love that we can draw from. In marriage, the kind of love and commitment we should for each other is “until death do us part”; not “as long as we love each other.” There is a constant promise that in every situation, we will love each other and do better to understand one another. That is love. Another example of love is treating a stranger as your brother. Showing hospitality to someone new. Helping someone in need whether it be food, shelter, or maybe you can even help them get clean of an addiction. Agape love. Loving your neighbor as yourself. The highest form of love we can show is this: “Greater love has no one than this, than to give his life for his friend.” Paul, in Romans 9:3, exemplified this well. He said, “For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh.” He is saying that if he himself had to be separated from Christ in order for others to be saved, he would do it. He is willing to endure the spiritual life in Hell just so that others could be saved. That is love. While he loves the Lord completely and whole-heartedly, he would be willing to make that sacrifice. It’s easy to say what kind of love we have for one another but the hard part, the most important part, is showing it and acting upon it. Let’s really show others how much we love them because of how much Christ loves us.

-Mark Talbert-