Why are people so important to our lives? Have you ever asked yourself that question? In Genesis 2:18 God’s plan from the beginning was that, “It is not good that man should be alone”. Human relationships are vital to the expression of the love that God has sacrificially given to us. It is so important that in 1 John 3:11-22 our love for one another is one part of the litmus test of our obedience to God. The second part of this test of our obedience is our belief in the name of Jesus Christ. These two parts are linked because the purpose of one is evidenced in the other.
The purpose of the coming of Jesus Christ and his death and resurrection was God’s love for people. You and I, the people of this earth, are the only part of God’s creation that He made “a little lower than the angels” (Psalm 8). His love for us is shown as he sent his son, “who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.” (Hebrews 2:9) Our belief in Jesus Christ as the founder of life and the conqueror of death is one display of our obedience to him. Our obedience is seen as we surrender our will to his; when his plans are greater than ours.
Hebrews 2:11 continues to help us understand how these two parts, of the test of our obedience, go together. “For he who sanctifies (Jesus) and those who are sanctified (you and me) all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, saying, ‘I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.’”
1 John 3:14 “We know that we have passed out of death into life. Because we love the brothers.”
God as the source of life, given through Jesus Christ, is the only hope for mankind as we are born into this world as ones who are destined to death. Without knowing and accepting the gift of life, from the one who has conquered death, we live a life never knowing the love that God has for you. He desires for us to become his children. He desires for us to know how much he loves us. He desires for us to display that love to all so that they might also know his love.
Having love for one another in friendships and marriage are part of God’s plan to reveal His love to the world. We cannot limit the love we share because God’s love is limitless. We cannot choose who we display his love to because his love is for all. We cannot determine if someone deserves his love because none of us are worthy. Loving people can be difficult, especially if we have been hurt by someone. The kind of love spoken of in this passage is not necessarily one where you open every deep part of your life and expose it to every person you meet. The love here is one that displays and offers the love of Christ that fills your heart. A love that forgives, even if undeserving. A love that looks at each person as they are someone that Christ died for, not as a tool to help us accomplish what we want in life.
How does your life display that you have passed from death to life?
In what ways have you surrendered your will to him?
How are you showing the love of Christ?
Is there someone you have chosen not to show the love of Christ? Why?
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