“We Are a People Who Love”

“Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart.” 1 Peter 1:22

Seventy years ago (way back in the year 1955), a music group named The Four Aces sang a song entitle “Love is a Many Splendored Thing, reaching number one on the charts and becoming the title song for a movie by the same name. Indeed, love is a many-splendored thing. We know from scripture that God loves beyond our ability to fully know (John 3:16; Rom 5:8), and that His activity of love has become the template for all those who love Him and wish to be His followers (1 John 4:7-19). On top of all that, Jesus gave the command for His disciples to love each other in exactly the same way that He loved them (John 13:34-35).

One of the things that defines our identity here at CBC is that we are “a people” who love. That means we are intentional about building relational love attachments with one another and do so in a manner that is unconditional—no strings attached. Look at the words Peter wrote to the early believers—Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart…(1 Pt 1:22). Let’s examine further a couple of the words that Peter uses.

It is first a sincere love. It is a love that is without hypocrisy or pretense. Originally it was used in theatrical circles to indicate one who was inexperienced in the art of acting, a stage performer who couldn’t act their part. The New Testament picked the word to mean someone who was genuine through and through, unfeigned, the real deal! Peter experienced Christ’s love firsthand and was there when Jeus gave the command then to love as He loved. It’s safe to say that he knew what he was talking about.

Second, then, Peter commands them to love one another from this place of authenticity. He says to do it fervently. This adverb has the fundamental idea of earnestness or zealousness, not lightly or perfunctorily (carried out with minimum effort or reflection), but straining, as it were! That makes love pretty intense, straining with great energy and effort to make it a reality in one’s relationships. It sounds as if Peter is admonishing the spiritual community to outdo one another in demonstration of love.

But how does the spiritual family make such love a reality? The Bible tells us two crucial pieces must be in place: first, individuals in the company of other whole-hearted followers must be in unison with the Holy Spirit, what Paul calls “walking by the Spirit” (Gal 5: 16, 25). When Believers purpose to stay in union with the Spirit, the resulting fruit is love. We can love only to the degree that He has His way in our lives, plain and simple.

Second, then, there is a bit of effort by “individuals in community” to practice some intentionality in every relational attachment. Paul gives us a template in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7—Love is patient. Love is kind. Love is not jealous, bragging, or arrogant. Love isn’t self-centered, or easily provoked, and certainly doesn’t keep a ledger of offenses, hurts, or wrongs. It shuns unrighteousness and celebrates the truth every time. Such love bears, believes, hopes, and endures all things. And ultimately, love never fails. Truth is, this kind of love is a lifetime in the making, and practice that is never perfected, and an ambition that grows with every encounter.

Is it hard work? Absolutely! Can it be costly? Certainly! Might it leave battle scars? Count on it. But ask yourselves, “what is the alternative?” A community that pretends, a façade of love that has no substance to it; a community that leaves the wrong impression amidst an unbelieving world; a community that walks on eggshells whenever they gather. No thanks. I have no interest in being a part of something like that. This is precisely we strive to be “a people who love.” As my mama always said “practice makes perfect.” I’m excited to see what God will do in us and through us as we pursue this endeavor!

Blessings on the Journey, Pastor Dewayne