Guiding Questions 2: How Can I Show the Love of Christ to Others?
- RD Montgomery
- Aug 16
- 5 min read
As followers of Christ, we are called to love one another as He has loved us (John 13:34-35). Christ's love is both sacrificial and unconditional; He loved people who loved Him and people who hated Him, ultimately giving His life for both. This kind of love is far beyond our own human ability, but we are not left to do it alone. If we truly desire to love others in this way, the Holy Spirit will empower us.
One way we can help teach ourselves to align with God’s will is to keep challenging ourselves to exhibit the love of Christ to other people. Challenges like:
How will someone in this restaurant see love from me?
How will someone at work today see love from me?
Will this post on social media reflect the love of Christ?
The qualities of genuine love of others
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Not just for weddings! Let’s break down this familiar passage based on the words used and biblical context:
Is patient—Love can endure hardship or wrongdoing without being offended or seeking revenge.
Is kind—Love results in an active, generous, and compassionate attitude towards others.
Is not envious—Love is a genuine contentment and happiness for another's success.
Is not boastful—Love is humble and does not brag to seek glory.
Is not arrogant—Love is free from pride and feelings of superiority.
Is not rude—Love acts with decency, respect, and consideration for others.
Does not insist on its own way—Love maintains a selfless attitude that prioritizes others' needs over personal desires.
Is not irritable—Love maintains a calm temperament that isn't easily angered or provoked.
Is not resentful—Love does not keep a list of wrongdoing or grievances, choosing instead to fully forgive.
Does not rejoice at wrongdoing—Love does not delight or celebrate unrighteousness that others do to themselves or others
Rejoices with the truth—Love finds joy and satisfaction in what is honest, just, and right.
Bears all things—Love endures the mistakes, poor choices, and difficult behaviors of others, so they do not become a barrier to the relationship. We do not approve of bad behavior, but we do not allow it to stand in our way.
Believes all things—Love isn't gullible, but it gives others the benefit of the doubt
Hopes all things—Love maintains a resilient optimism that returns even when faced with setbacks.
Endures all things—Love for others can persevere and remain steadfast through challenges.
Love exhibits all of the above qualities all the time and in the hardest of situations. Jesus says that if we are only relational with people who are easy to love, we are still acting like unbelievers (Matthew 5:46-47).
This means the questions get harder like:
How will the person who has treated me badly see love from me?
How do I love someone who is so different from me?
How do I love a person who makes loving them so impossible?
How can I forgive a person so that I can fully restore a broken relationship?
Everything you think is biblical or religious is wrong without love
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:1-3
These verses teach us that without genuine love, no matter how much truth there is in what we say, our words are a noisy and jarring annoyance. Second, no matter how much we study, or any act of faith, without love, we are useless. Last, they teach us that no matter how sacrificially we live or die, without love, we gain nothing. Summed up, the only way to say or do what is right must come from love.
Love vs hate
Hate can be defined as the opposite of the qualities we see in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. For instance, it is through arrogance that we see things like racism. It is in keeping track of how someone has done us wrong that resentment grows, and as I have said before, resentment is a relationship killer.
The more we love, the more we show Christ to other people and bring glory to Him. This is also how we are asked to be the light and salt of the world. It is the defining characteristic of someone who is born again and a child of the Most High God. This is why we see Jesus separating the sheep and the goats in Matthew 25:31-46 by their deeds of love.
The more we hate, while calling ourselves Christians, the more we bring shame to the Name of Christ. We damage the word Christian so much that as a group we are seen as hypocrites, bullies, and powerless. Some will not give us another chance; for others, it can be a very hard thing to overcome their experiences with hateful Christians.
A special warning about your social media posts
One of the most obvious places where people who say they are Christians are getting it wrong is in online discussions. I have seen countless heated debates between people with opposing political and religious views, and they treat their opposition as enemies. However, when we hate others, we are enemies of our faith.
When you post something online, it may reach thousands of people who may never see another post from you ever again. This means that you may never have a chance to apologize or confess your mistake. The harm you can do is immense.
I beg you to slow down and before you post something online, ask yourself if what you are saying will be seen as love.
The Motivation for Our Actions
When we consider our words and actions, it's important to remember the two greatest commandments Jesus gave us: to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind, and to love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:37-40). Jesus tells us that all of God's instructions are anchored in these two commands. They should be our only two motivations. For instance, we worship, praise, and seek God's presence because we love Him. Likewise, everything we do for others should be motivated by love. Sometimes this can mean having a tough discussion but this is a time when you need to do serious soul-searching and prayer so that your only motivation is love.
I pray that as you read this, you will recalibrate your compass and align yourself with a mission of love that the Holy Spirit can empower and be a beacon of light in this dark world.
Scripture used or considered in the writing of "Guiding Questions 2: How can I show the love of Christ to others?" by RD Montgomery. All Scripture quoted is in ESV format unless otherwise stated.
Matthew 5:13-16
Matthew 5:43-48
Matthew 22:37-40
Matthew 25:31-46
John 13:34-35
John 15:12
John 15:13
Romans 13:8
Romans 13:10
1 Corinthians 13
Ephesians 3:17-19
Ephesians 4:32
Galatians 5:13-26
1 Thessalonians 3:12-13
1 Timothy 1:5
1 Peter 1:22
1 John 3:17-18
1 John 4:7-21
1 John 4:11
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