To love as Christ loves us is a worthy desire.
And it sounds simple enough—until you're faced with someone who's hurt you, exhausted you, or simply rubbed you the wrong way. In those moments, selfless love can feel impossible.
This month, we're sharing Dr. Stanley's teaching on this love gap—to discover how the Lord moves within us to bridge it.
What qualities would you say characterize your life?
The Lord is very concerned about how believers live and what influences us. The letter to the Ephesians gives us practical guidance on how to walk as followers of Jesus.
Often the Bible uses the word “walk” to describe how we live. In Ephesians we’re told to walk in a manner worthy of our calling (Ephesians 4:1), not to walk as unbelievers do (Ephesians 4:17), to walk in love (Ephesians 5:2), to walk as children of light (Ephesians 5:8), and to be careful to walk wisely (Eph. 5:15).
These instructions can all be summed up in Paul’s command: “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children” (Ephesians 5:1). He predestined us to be conformed to the image of His Son (Rom. 8:29).
Christlikeness means pursuing holiness and loving as God does. Three important questions naturally follow.
First, how can we possibly love perfectly as God does?
This is not achieved by working up an emotional fervor but only through the power of the Holy Spirit who indwells us. The first fruit of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22 is love. It’s what the Spirit produces in us as we submit to Him.
Our problem is this: We live in the flesh.
And once in a while, we meet somebody who’s very difficult to love. So how is it that we can love unlovely people? Because of the Spirit of God. His love toward us becomes the overflow of our life.
“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me” (Gal. 2:20).
Godly love is the overflow of the Spirit in our lives toward other people. This is a quality that should characterize everyone who belongs to Christ.
Second, what does God’s love look like?
Paul said, “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” (Eph. 5:2).
Christ’s love for us is unconditional, sacrificial, and forgiving, and that’s how we should love others. Our love is to be unselfish, without conditions.
Selfless love often requires the sacrifice of our desires, schedules, and convenience. It also includes a willingness to forgive at all times. The goal is always the good of the one loved.
Third, how does Christlike love differ from that of the world?
The world can only offer an incomplete substitute for genuine love.
Scripture makes the contrast clear: “But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints” (Eph. 5:3).
These vices reveal a kind of love filled with self-interest, always asking, “What’s in it for me?”
Worldly love is conditional; its bearers quickly give up on relationships when their expectations are no longer being met. In the pursuit of their own ease and gratification, they show little concern for the well-being of the other person.
Don’t adopt the counterfeit version of love portrayed by the world around you or even by those near you who don’t know Christ. It will only lead to heartache, broken relationships, and an empty life. You are not of this world—you are a citizen of heaven.
Ask the Holy Spirit to produce His selfless, sacrificial, unconditional, and forgiving love within you. Since this is God’s will for all believers, you can trust that He will answer your prayer and teach you to love as He does.
The beauty of walking in love is that it's not something we manufacture through effort or willpower.
It's the Holy Spirit's job to produce this kind of love in us—our job is simply to listen and submit to His leading.
As you go about your week, pay attention to the Lord’s promptings. He will meet you right where you are and show you how to love the people He’s placed in your path. Till next time, God bless you.
For His glory,
Your friends at In Touch Ministries