Followers of Christ are also leaders

It always amazes me how the most profound thoughts present themselves when you least expect them. I recently overheard something on the news as I surfed past it for some less depressing mindless escapism.

My ears zoned in on the one word that sends most people into a frothy mouthed frenzy; bailout. Interestingly enough, the first thing that came to mind was Jesus and his love. I think it is safe to say that what Jesus did for us was the biggest and most significant bailout in history. Christ paid our debt.

What he did can’t be undone, markers can’t be called in, and we never have to file for bankruptcy. All of that was accomplished out of, through and because of love.

We also know from God’s word how amazing, uncompromising and eternal his love is for us. The gospel of John, Chapter 15, tells us not only of his love for us, but of how we are to love one another. Verse 12 and 13 tell us that we are to love one another as Jesus loves us. “Greater love hath no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friends.” This “God kind of love” is what is known as “agape” love. It is a choice. Agape love is a decision to love the way that Christ loves us, regardless of how we might feel about someone or something. This particular chapter of John does not politely suggest that we love one another as Christ loves us. It isn’t a recommendation. It is a commandment. In keeping this one command, we are able to better keep all the others.

When we are actively walking in the love of Christ, our flesh is in submission. We are not being dominated by our own thoughts or desires. If we love our neighbor, we will not covet their wife, fishing boat, or ’57 Chevy. When we are walking daily in the love of Christ, we will not speak unjustly of another or gossip; we will not lie or spread rumors. When truly following Christ’s example of love, we do not fulfill the lusts of our flesh.

This love not only helps us to maintain and strengthen our relationship with our father, but it is both lucrative and necessary for the solidarity of the church, marriage and our family units. It is also the greatest witness to the lost. Christ’s love working through us is what brings in the harvest. That “love choice” or “agape love” is the very thing that can save marriages and bring home the wayward child.

There are a great many things in this world that may provoke us to wrath, retaliation, or the urge to set things right. As Christians, the very word given to describe followers of Christ, it is our responsibility to follow his example. Though we may not feel like loving that guy who just cut us off in rush hour traffic and flipped us the bird. Odds are, we will not be too eager to love the lady in the grocery store who just called us a brain washed moron because we said “God bless you.” Whatever the situation, whomever the person, we have been commanded to love.

In 1 Corinthians Chapter 13, we are instructed to do everything with love. Verses 4-13 tell us what love is, and is not. Walking in God’s love means that we bear all things, endure all things, and are not easily provoked. God has already promised us that we are more than conquerors and that we can do all things through him because he has strengthened us. That means that we can endure. We can smile and bear it because of his love.

My daughter told me once that it is not nice to rejoice in the misery of others. Imagine a 10-year-old child grasping that fact while some adults snicker at the suffering of the broken and hopeless. Love rejoices in the truth and it thinks no evil. One way we can get sucked right out of our love walk is to always expect the worst from other people. If we will put on our Jesus goggles — for lack of a better description — and start looking at others the way that God looks at us, we might be amazed at what we find. Making a solid, dedicated decision to love others may not be easy, but it is a requirement.

There are many ways to express and practice the love of Christ. Our words, actions, or lack of reaction, are all areas that we can practice love. Agape love is not earned or merited; it just is. It is because God chose it to be so; his son chose to love us regardless of our sins, faults and shortcomings. Who are we to decide that our brothers, sisters, and neighbors do not merit our love?

Walking daily in God’s love involves not only kindness gentleness, and compassion, but also strength of character, charity, hospitality and fortitude. God has equipped us with everything we need to do the job. We already know that we are not to walk according to the flesh, but sometimes we forget that part of that includes love for one another. Practicing God’s love regularly means putting aside our own desires, opinions and feelings. It doesn’t mean we can’t have desires, opinions and feelings; it means that we do not place more importance on them then we do the treatment of those around us.

As followers of Christ we should not only be following his example, but also setting an example. Above all else we are to love one another as he loves us. We did nothing to earn our salvation. It was not by our works or goodness that we were saved. The selfless act of love blotted out our transgressions. It is our responsibility to live our lives ministering God’s love to one another; saved and unsaved alike.

Angela Kutzner is director of Children’s Ministries at Abundant Life Church in Wasilla.

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