Christianity is a religion of love.
Most Christians believe that Christian teaching is all about love; even non-Christian also feel that way.
Years ago, when I was in Korea, I could get acquainted with a lady. At that moment, I thought I could invite her to come to church, so I ask her, “why don’t you come to church this coming Sunday?” Her answer was quite interesting. She said, “I believe that Christians always look smiling people, but I am not that kind of person. So, I could not go to church. She believed that All Christians should be saints who are always smiling and kind to all people in any situation.
However, every Christian did not do that way. For example, Peter was a wild man with a sward on his waist. In the night, when Jesus was arrested by the servants of the high Priest, Peter struck and cutting off a servant right ear. It sounds like he was not kind and gentle person but was rough and colorful character.
Definition of Peter’s Love
The definition of Peter’s love was not to be smiling person, but his love was to love Jesus more than any other person. Love Jesus the most is the definition of Peter’s love. In John 21, after the resurrection, Jesus came to peter and asked him “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than people. Peter said, “you know that I love you the most.”
Loving God first and foremost is the definition of Christian love in the Bible. Matthew 22:37-39 “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.” Love your God the first and the most, it is Christian love in the Bible.
Main Story
I will share with you three interesting concepts from Revelation 3:14-22. The first is the spiritual meaning of lukewarmness. The second is the biblical meaning of Christian love. Finally, what is the meaning of a victorious life.
Lukewarm
Verse 15-16 “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.”
Being lukewarm means hesitating between two things. God does not like behavior of people who put their one leg one side and the other leg other side. The Bible point that as a double minded.
In the story of Elijah, It gives us a clear view of the meaning of Christian lukewarm. When Elijah was standing with eight hundred fifty Baal prophets on Mount Carmel. At that moment, Elijah went before the people who were surrounding him and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is god, follow him.”
In the same way, when God asks you “do you love me the most. If you hesitate to say “Yes Lord, I love you more than anything and anyone else, it is Christian lukewarm.
I like to drink a hot hazelnut cappuccino. So, when I go to Starbucks, I order a hot cappuccino. In my opinion, Cappuccino should be hot. But when I order a caramel macchiato, I say, “Not hot, but cold icy macchiato. Because I know the best taste for Caramel macchiato is cold icy. For me, YES or NO is clear when I order coffee. Likewise, Christian should say “Yes Lord, I love you the most in any situation and circumstances.
Love is responsibility
Jesus Christ said in verse 19, “Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline.” It means, God will never abandon us but holding us by his hands, teaching, and discipline us because we are God’s Children. Proverbs 13:24 say, “whoever spares the rod hates their children but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them”.
I believe that my mother loved her younger son the most, but I was my father’s favorite. When I was young, I spend more time with father because I like him more than mother. However, I remember that One day, I might lie to him and not tell the truth. He scolded and chastened me with his belt. It was the first and last of his discipline with the belt. His discipline still works with me. Even now, when I try to lie, my heart pounds and my words stutter. You can tell right away if I'm lying. It is the result of my father's discipline.
God's responsibility was to lay down his life for us. God's love through Jesus Christ is self-sacrificing and endless. His love is not a feeling, but it's taking full responsibility for us.
Like and Love
Many people are confused about the meaning of love with like. When you say, “I love you,” it is totally different from “I like you.” The most significant difference between love and like is responsibility. For example, you can say, “I love white chocolate.” I know what you mean you like to eat white chocolate, but you don’t have to devote your life to eat white chocolate all the time. If you find a sea salt chocolate, you like the flavor. You can buy sea salt and eat it. You don’t have to have any responsibility to commit your life for it.
However, if you say, “I love my children, it is a totally different meaning than you like to see your neighbor’s daughter achievements. Why? Because you cannot exchange your daughter for your neighbor’s daughter. Even though your neighbor’s daughter is much better than yours in many ways, you will love your children more than anyone else because you have responsibility for love them.
On this wise, love is not a feeling or emotion, but a law of responsibility.
Victorious means to buy spiritual values (spiritual “riches”)
In verse 18, Jesus suggested us to buy three spiritual values to make you rich in spirit.
- Gold refined in the fire: genuine faith without falsehood before God.
- White clothes to wear: Purity of heart and intention of Christian heart to serve God.
- Salve to put on your eyes: Motivation to see spiritual reality in our Christian life.
How to buy that three spiritual values
Isaiah 55:1-3, “Is anyone thirsty? Come and drink— even if you have no money! Come, take your choice of wine or milk— it’s all free! “Come to me with your ears wide open. Listen, and you will find life. I will make an everlasting covenant with you. I will give you all the unfailing love.
It is God’s promise words and invitational word “to Come to the one who can give you these things as gifts.”. The word of promise will be completed with us when we follow it.The reward is the fruit of obedience.
Difference of rewards and promises
- Promises is like an opportunity that was provided for every individual. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door,
- Reward is like a wage that was given whoever work for it. I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.
Christian love means to love God the first and the most and love is responsibility.
12.25.2022 Pastor Cloud Poy
@ Photo on Unsplash
