What Does Love Ask of Me?

By Pastor Rey Diaz

Throughout this series, we’ve talked about how Christianity has a branding problem.  Jesus never called his followers “Christians.” He called them “disciples.” That’s a scarier word because it actually means something. A disciple is a pupil or follower. A disciple learns and grows by obeying and imitating his or her master. And Jesus made it very clear how he wanted his followers to behave:

“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:35)

If Jesus commands us to love one another, we need to ask: What does love require of me? I don’t think anyone would disagree about the central role love is to play on our lives.  But just like Christianity has a branding problem love has a definition problem because we all define it differently.  So what exactly did Jesus mean by “love one another”?

My main argument this past week was this – if you want to know what Jesus meant by what Jesus said, watch what Jesus did.  In other words, if we want to know what Jesus meant by “love one another”, we have to watch what he did. 

So what did Jesus do?  He walked into Jerusalem knowing it would cost him his life.  He looked at us and asked, “what does love ask of me?”  Love asks me to give it all to rescue people from sin.  Love asks me to sacrifice it all on the cross for the forgiveness of their sins.  These were not idealistic words from Jesus, but words he lived out. 

Once in Jerusalem, Jesus was asked which of God’s commandments was most important. His answer tells us what love requires of us:

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Matthew 22:37–39, NIV)

Ironically, Jesus not only answered with words but was in the midst of answering with his deeds.  Jesus made it clear – love God.  Love people. 

So what does love asks of me? 

First, love asks that we put God first.  There is a vertical aspect to our relationships.  We were made in the image of a loving God and until we fix our vertical relationship the horizontal will be impossible. 

Second love asks that we put people first.  That we put their interests above our own interest.  I have included a checklist based on Jesus’ actions and the love Paul describes in 1 Corinthians 13.  Look at the people God has put in your circle.  Are you really loving them as God has loved you?

Can you imagine what would happen in our families and communities—even our nation—if, for a month, we asked what love requires of us and then responded accordingly?

“Love one another“ Checklist

Matt 22:37-39 and 1 Corinthians 13

Vertical

☐  God is first

☐  God is at the center

☐  I won’t hurt God

☐  I won’t hurt me

Horizontal

☐  I will put other first

☐  I won’t hurt others

☐  Patient

☐  Kind

☐  Not Jealous

☐  Not irritable

☐  Not keeping a record of other’s wrong

☐  Not demanding my own way

☐  Allowing truth to win out

☐  Not giving up

☐  Not losing faith

☐  Staying hopeful

☐  Expecting the best

☐  I will endure everything