Do You Love Me?

 

"Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me."

It's an amazing concept that whatever we do to others, good or bad, we are doing to Jesus Himself.  Verbal confession of our love for God is not a true measure of our relationship with Him.  Our level of love and commitment are equivalent in how we treat others!   

Are we kind or sharp tongued?  Do we use our words to build up or tear down?  Do we take time to listen to others or do we tune them out if we deem it irrelevant?  Do we lay down our agenda to help or do we find that doing for others is an interruption to our lives?  Do we have a cheerful heart when we serve or do we grumble and complain when it’s not accompanied with recognition?  Are we quick to give when there is a need or do we hoard what we have?  Do we understand that God blessed us in order to get His blessing to others or do we see it as our hard work and accomplishments for only us to enjoy?  Are we selfless or selfish? 

The Scriptures are clear that God takes an account of everything - down to EVERY idle word we speak!  Is our day filled with encouraging words?  We have only so much time in a day; only so many breaths before our lives on earth are over.  What are we doing with them?  How are we using our numbered breaths that we are so fortunate to still have?

We are expected to exercise self control even when we are offended or irritated by another's actions.  Why?   Because we have to, in order to be effective lights for Jesus in a dark world.  We ultimately misrepresent and bring shame to His name when we choose unkindness and mistreatment of others.  It's the love of God that leads men to repentance.  If we can't love others with God's love, we cannot reach them for Christ.   

I think it’s also important to remember, this doesn’t just apply to how we interact with our neighbors, co-workers, fellow church goers, or family we see on occasion.  If we have any dose of  self-control at all, that can be fairly simple.  For those who are closest to us, it may not be as easy. However, the reality that how we treat them is how we are treating Jesus is still the same.  The way we treat those living under the same roof affects them greatly.  Our homes should be a safe haven of edification and peace.  A place where our children, when they are grown, can look back and say, “That is my goal for my family.”  Don’t create a life for them that leaves them with years of unraveling what childhood did to them.  We as parents will give account one day for this.  Did our actions draw our children to the hands of the Father or did their embittered spirits cause them to resist Him?  We have to remember, our actions bring the reactions in our children, not our words.  If our words and actions line up, this is healthy soil for our children to thrive.  If we are telling them to love God and love others and our actions are not so, our actions trump our words.  Woe to us who would cause them to stumble. Very scary thought, really.

"After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love Me more than these” “Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love You.”  “Then feed My lambs,” Jesus told him.  Jesus repeated the question: “Simon son of John, do you love Me?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “you know I love You.” “Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said.  A third time he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, You know everything. You know that I love You.”  Jesus said, “Then feed My sheep." 

Our actions mirror our hearts.   Is there enough evidence in how we treat others to convict us of being true lovers of Jesus?  Jesus is asking us the same thing, "Do you love Me?"

(Matthew 25:31-45, Matthew 12:36, Matthew 5:14-16, Mark 9:42, Genesis 12:1-3, 2 Cor. 9:8-12, 1 Cor. 13, Prov. 12:25, Prov. 19:17, Prov. 25:11, Eph. 4:32)