We are God's building

What is the one thing that Christians seem to struggle with most in the midst of the Church? (Not just the little church this author attends. We are talking about the universal Church, the body of Christ, which is made up of born again believers all across the world.) One thing that is a definite struggle for us is the reality of spiritual warfare. Christians experience it on a regular basis, especially when there is an all out commitment to doing what the Lord has called us to. Also, we have our own personal struggles that we face daily. Our old nature and its desires, trying to take control of our lives in different situations. There is also the struggle of combating outside influences that are trying to make their way in from the world. Sadly, some professing Christian churches have given into the influences from the world and really don't look much different than the world.

These are real struggles that Christians face, but there is something that we seem to struggle with the most ... living out God's basic command, "love one another." Multiple times and in various ways, we are given this command in Scripture, from the Old Testament to the New. Jesus said, "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all [men] know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." (John 13:34-35) The Lord was not just giving good advice or making a suggestion to His disciples. People may say, "But there are some people I just don't like! Can't I just be civil with them? Isn't that good enough?" Well, when Jesus was asked, "Master, which [is] the great commandment in the law?" Jesus said, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. AND the second [is] LIKE UNTO IT, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." (Matthew 22:36-40)

It is clearly His command. The Lord even stepped it up: "love one another; as I have loved you." Of course, this is humanly impossible. The Ten Commandments, which are summed up in love God and love your neighbor, have been broken by every single one of us. We cannot keep His Law. On top of that, we cannot possibly love in a way the Lord has shown His love, which was displayed through His ministry and the cross. There is no possible way we can love others in a way the Lord has taught us: "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13) Let's take it up even another step. Jesus commanded us even to love our enemies! "Love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and [to] the evil." (Luke 6:35) Through loving others, even our enemies, we are showing the world that we are Jesus' disciples, that we are children of the Highest.

Living this love out toward others, however, is a struggle for us. It is not in our nature to love others. On the contrary, we would rather seek the betterment of our own selves before that of others, even though the Bible says, "...be likeminded, having the same love, [being] of one accord, of one mind. [Let] nothing [be done] through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others." (Philippians 2:2-4) How often are we guilty of breaking God's command of "love thy neighbour as thyself?" Sadly, it is often. This message is for every single one of us, especially this author.

In what ways are we are guilty of breaking this command? What about envy, strife, and divisions, as mentioned in 1 Corinthians 3? Carnality ... which causes the professing Christian to say, "I'm of ... (name your church)," dividing himself or herself from other Christians in the Body of Christ; having the mindset that the church they attend is far superior than other churches. This is not love. There's bitterness towards others or holding on to unforgiveness, rejecting the Matthew 18 principle on confrontation. This is not love. Gossip ... ugly behavior which is rampant in the Church. Somehow Christians think it's ok to run about the mouth concerning someone else and then use Christian lingo or a nice word about that person afterwards, in order to cover it up. This is not love. A critical spirit. Looking down on others who are supposedly not at your level of the Christian faith. Not "judging according to righteous judgment" as the Bible instructs, but using your own rule of judgment. This is not love. There are many ways that we break this command. These are just to name a few.

Left on our own, we fail in our love for others. The love mentioned in 1 Corinthians 13 is an in depth description of what love is. This love cannot be lived out on our own; it can only be lived out by God's power. It is impossible for us to love others as much as the Lord has shown His love for us. Once again, it is only by God's power that we are able to do this. God's word even says, "We love him, because he first loved us." (1 John 4:19) And when we do live this love out, it is very evident. It is not just a shallow love, which is only in word. True love lived out is one which is shown towards others, in deed and in truth. Love is not a feeling, that we only live out when we feel like it. Actually, love is an actual person, the true and living God. (1 John 4:8) Yes, we may struggle with loving others, but the One who resides within us (We are God's building) is love, and His power is readily available to each of us to live it out. Therefore, in conclusion, we are totally without excuse. His command is clear. "Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God." (1 John 4:7)


Love one another,

One Clay Soldier among many