The Relationship between God and Man: - A Lesson of Love
I guess if you were to ask someone where the “love” chapter in the Bible is, they would say, “It’s the 13th chapter of 1 Corinthians. Of course, that is a great chapter, but is only one of the chapters that deal with this subject. After all, you would never have 1 Corinthians 13 if you didn’t have John 13. It’s there that Jesus shows his disciples what love is by washing their feet and then issuing them the new command, to love one another as I have loved you. Jesus, the very fullness of deity, perfectly demonstrated God to man. Sometimes we forget that, that when we see Jesus, we are seeing God. And the will and characteristics of God is what Jesus lived in his life here on earth.
I heard a sermon recently about humility. It was a lesson that helped us understand that humility doesn’t mean weak or bashful. Sometimes, we put those labels on the humble or expect those characteristics to be part of our Christian nature. But the humble Jesus was not weak and spoke out as a leader and teacher against sin and the arrogance of those who thought they knew God.
In fact, humility is one of the greatest characteristics of God. And this characteristic was perfectly demonstrated by Jesus. Humility is making others greater than yourself. This is the heart of the gospel. God, spurned by man in the garden, set out to show man this characteristic of humility. God, sacrificing His only son, redeemed sinful man back to himself, by giving up His only son. It wasn’t man that made this relationship possible again, it was God. He loves us more than he loves Himself. The act of redemption is perfectly reflective of God’s own humble nature. Jesus, demonstrated this characteristic throughout his life and made the specific point to example it to his disciples as he was approaching the ultimate sacrifice. And the new command, to love one another as he loves us, is the perfect way for us to look like Jesus to the world. He even said the world will know that we are his disciples by the way we love others.
John 13:34 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
John 13:35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. "
Jesus wants us to put on this characteristic so that we can perfectly reflect God. During his sermon on the mount in Matthew 5, Jesus describes what the characteristics of humility look like. It always puts others first. Saying, “Be perfect, therefore, as your Father is perfect” is the culmination of our understanding that this very characteristic will turn you into one who looks like God, also. And this is the greatest way to glorify God. Glorifying God by humility, the way you treat others better than yourself, is the highest form of glorification that you can do. It shows that you have accepted grace, taken your faith seriously and allowed the spirit of God living in you to declare God to the world.
Phil. 2:1 If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion,
Phil. 2:2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.
Phil. 2:3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.
Don Campbell
I heard a sermon recently about humility. It was a lesson that helped us understand that humility doesn’t mean weak or bashful. Sometimes, we put those labels on the humble or expect those characteristics to be part of our Christian nature. But the humble Jesus was not weak and spoke out as a leader and teacher against sin and the arrogance of those who thought they knew God.
In fact, humility is one of the greatest characteristics of God. And this characteristic was perfectly demonstrated by Jesus. Humility is making others greater than yourself. This is the heart of the gospel. God, spurned by man in the garden, set out to show man this characteristic of humility. God, sacrificing His only son, redeemed sinful man back to himself, by giving up His only son. It wasn’t man that made this relationship possible again, it was God. He loves us more than he loves Himself. The act of redemption is perfectly reflective of God’s own humble nature. Jesus, demonstrated this characteristic throughout his life and made the specific point to example it to his disciples as he was approaching the ultimate sacrifice. And the new command, to love one another as he loves us, is the perfect way for us to look like Jesus to the world. He even said the world will know that we are his disciples by the way we love others.
John 13:34 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
John 13:35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. "
Jesus wants us to put on this characteristic so that we can perfectly reflect God. During his sermon on the mount in Matthew 5, Jesus describes what the characteristics of humility look like. It always puts others first. Saying, “Be perfect, therefore, as your Father is perfect” is the culmination of our understanding that this very characteristic will turn you into one who looks like God, also. And this is the greatest way to glorify God. Glorifying God by humility, the way you treat others better than yourself, is the highest form of glorification that you can do. It shows that you have accepted grace, taken your faith seriously and allowed the spirit of God living in you to declare God to the world.
Phil. 2:1 If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion,
Phil. 2:2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.
Phil. 2:3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.
Don Campbell
posted by Don Campbell at
9:54 AM
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