Is there a greater blessing than to love and be loved? I mean, to really know it deep down inside, both intellectually and emotionally, is so very precious that wars have been fought over it. I’d argue that all battles are fought for love; maybe it’s love for another, land, money, power, or whatever else conflicting people have set their affections upon. Somewhere along the line, both enemies and allies are made on the basis of love. Victory is typically decided by the greater love.
Love is the great motivator in life.
For believers in Christ, this love transcends human intellect and emotion. True Christian love is an exclusive right of those gifted by God with the supernatural ability to love the way Christ, Himself, does. This is a special love – a taste of Heaven. We are first introduced to it at salvation. As we mature in the faith, by the Word of God, our love blooms for others.
Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; for
“All flesh is like grass
and all its glory like the flower of grass.
The grass withers,
and the flower falls,
but the word of the Lord remains forever.”
And this word is the good news that was preached to you. So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.
— 1 Peter 1:22-2:3
In 1 Peter, the apostle was writing to an audience under persecution. He wrote to encourage them to persevere through love. Not only did he show them love by writing to them, but he reminded them of the power of love for one another; that this “brotherly love” (v22) that is unique to believers would, in fact, protect them from the temptation to lose hope during their tribulation. In other words, Peter encouraged his readers (both then and now) to persevere, as Paul wrote, similarly,“Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love” (Ephesians 4:15-16). Christ’s Body is stronger when it is tightly bound together by love.
There’s no greater peace found on Earth than in the sphere of love; but, we must fight to keep it. We have to thwart the schemes of the devil to always remain in this sphere. “Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you” (2 Corinthians 13:11). We must fight to obey Jesus’ command to abide in His love.
Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.
As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.
You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.
These things I command you, so that you will love one another.
— John 15:3-17
On the battlefield, our commanding officer, Jesus Christ, gives us marching orders and equips us for success through the imparting of His Word to our souls. The battle is for love – a love given to us exclusively, as children of God. This gift is everything to us and therefore worth every last ounce of our energy to fight for. Our peace depends on the outcome. It’s true, some days we lose the battle and so lose our peace. But, as the Word, itself, states, “The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (Lamentation 3:22-23).
Is there a greater blessing than to love and be loved? I don’t believe so. To abide in Christ’s love is to abide in His peace, a sphere that guarantees our hearts are safe and filled with eternal hope. Isn’t this love worth fighting for?
Love in Christ,
Ed Collins