The Divine Thread: Love, Unity, and the Heart of God

John 15:16: “You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.”

     Elias, a man ostracized by his community for past mistakes, spent years in quiet reflection, grappling with his shame and seeking redemption. One day, he encountered a young woman, Sarah, whose family had disowned her for choosing to marry outside their faith. Seeing her sorrow, Elias, remembering his own pain, approached her with kindness.        

     He offered her a place to stay, sharing his meager food and offering words of comfort. He didn't judge her choices, but instead, reminded her of God's love and forgiveness. Elias then helped her reconcile with her family, not through harsh demands, but through patient understanding and unwavering love, just as God patiently guides humanity. 

     As time passed, Elias became known for his selfless acts of love and compassion, extending his hand to those who were hurting, just as God extends his hand to humanity. He demonstrated that loving like God is not about perfection, but about choosing to love, forgive, and serve, even when it's difficult, mirroring the unconditional love that God has for all. 

     Sometimes reading a Bible verse can hopefully make you think a little more deeply about what God is really saying to us or teaching us.  Today let’s look at John 15:12, “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.”

     Well, that sounds easy enough, doesn’t it.  If we are completely honest, no it doesn’t. Let’s face it, sometimes our fellow believers aren’t easy to love.  So, what is Jesus saying to us? Let’s go back a little first. When one goes to church, they go looking for something more than the worship hour. Some go for the songs, others the children or children’s programs. Some go because of the preacher, others because of the type of worship service. But for all these reasons there is something in common that all people go for. That is for friendship. Think about how many times you have said or even heard, ‘that is such a friendly church to visit’. When everything is said and done, deep down, all of us value friendship and community. We can’t deny it. God wired all of us with a need for friendship. Friendship is what makes the church members a family and what helps the church move forward.

     So now we are making friends, does that mean we will like everyone or get along with everyone?  No, because there are some Christians you like, and there are some you don’t like. You don’t like their personalities, their preferences, or their priorities. You don’t have any chemistry and that’s okay. You might ask how that can be okay when Jesus clearly commands that we must love each other. It’s not a recommendation it’s a command because Christian love isn’t a feeling; it’s an act of the will. Jesus doesn’t say ‘This is my commandment that you like one another’, it’s not even a choice. I believe Jesus is saying that you still can love them even though you don’t like them because love is a choice to seek their highest good. To love someone then becomes a decision of the will.

      Sometimes we think we can love in the abstract. Warm, fuzzy feelings for people in general but – no – love is not so much a feeling as it is a verb. Look what we read in 1 John 4:11-12, “Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other.  No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.”

     It’s a cycle of life, a circle of love. When we make even the smallest effort to love one another God’s own love grows in us, God’s own love becomes more and more complete within us. One of my favorite chapters in the Bible is 1 John 4, because it is the best way we can learn love like Jesus. As a child we memorized these verses and if you have children of your own maybe you have taught them the same verses. “Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.”- 1 John 4:7-8.

      “God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.” 1 John 4:9-10.

     To love at this level means that there are times we put other’s needs before our own, we put aside our selfish desires and love them as they are.  Think about it, on the night before Jesus was to be crucified, the evening should have been about Him. He put that aside and washed the feet of all His disciples, He broke bread with them and served them. He let them sleep while He agonized in the garden.  Although He knew He would be dying for each of them He selflessly served them putting His feelings aside because He loved each of them, including Judas who He knew would betray Him.  This is the love that Jesus speaks of when He says love everyone as I have loved you. 

     Most likely you will not have to die for your friends, family, or hard to get along with Christians but when you show love and acceptance to each one of them, even when you don’t like them, you are choosing to do what Jesus has asked, love them as they are.  Dr. Dick Hamm sums this up nicely, “When a congregation [or even the larger church] seeks to deepen its understanding of what the second commandment, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’ really means in practical everyday terms, they had better be sure that everyone is at the table, that everyone can feel safe enough and be safe enough physically, emotionally and spiritually to speak their truth.”

     We are not perfect after all, and many times I am sure Jesus is sad of the choices we make, or how we act, and yet He loves us unconditionally.  He has accepted us as we are and in knowing Him and walking with Him, we can become better Christians. We all are real, less-than-perfect people, loving other real less-than-perfect people. The only way we are truly able to love is because God loves, loves in us and loves through us.

     Jesus’ answer is pretty clear: Love. The way to life is love. Love God, love one another, love the neighbor, love the stranger, love the enemy, love the unlovely and the unlovable. Love is an active verb.

     I know I am talking mostly about people in our churches but remember this kind of love needs to be extended to all those around us. Our family, our co-workers, our friends. The only way we truly are able to love is for God to love in us and through us. Our love is a response to God’s love.

     What would happen if Christians actually showed genuine love for one another? With their neighbors? How would that change our world?

     Love transforms us. Love re-orients us. Love changes us. When love of God becomes our center, everything is transformed!

    When we love God with heart, soul and might, God’s own life grows within us, and God’s own love becomes more and more complete within us. As we lean into God’s love and offer wholehearted love back to God, we also find more ability to love the neighbor – and even the enemy.

     “The out-going love from the heart of God to the creation becomes a force and motivation that transforms believers into the image of Christ. It is this love that allows us to see the world through the eyes and interests of God’s purposes for the world.” Thiselton

     When the love of God motivates us and transforms us, our priorities are readjusted. We grow to care about what God cares about; we are pleased by the things that please God and we love the people whom God loves.

     The way to life is love. Love God. Love one another. Love the stranger. Love the enemy. Love the neighbor. For God IS love.

     So, remember as you study this verse yourself, we are all responsible to take initiative and show love for one another. As we do so, we provide the greatest witness for Christianity. Friendships make the world move forward. You may not change the entire world, but you can start by making the change in your part of the world.

So, how does one cultivate a love like Jesus? Here's a few ideas. Deepen Your Knowledge- Read the Bible consistently to understand Jesus's commands and nature, allowing you to know Him more intimately. Engage in Spiritual Disciplines- Regular prayer, taking time for quiet contemplation, and being thankful are vital practices for fostering a loving relationship with Him.  Meditate on His Love- Spend time reflecting on the immensity of Jesus's love for you, which can inspire a greater desire and response of love from your own heart. This all can be done during personal Bible study time and that is one reason I have given many different Bible studies or as we have been going through new ideas for Bible studies. Today let's do a little different study and read through 1 John 4:7-21 and answer the following questions. If you have time do a google dive and find some studies that go deeper into this chapter.

Love one another because God loved us (7-14)

Discussion Questions

• How did John model this type of love for the brethren?

• How can we love others when sometimes it is so hard?

• If you find that you are not as loving as you should be, what can you do to become more loving?

• Explain the statement “God is love.”

• What example is given showing us God’s love in action?

• If people looked at your lives, would they be able to find great examples of love?

• What does verse 10 tell us about the source of love and the cause of our love?

• Who loved who first?

• How should knowing that God took the initiative to love us, effect our attitude?

• Why does John say “no one has seen God at any time?” What is his point?

• Who is “we” in verse 14?

Abiding in Christ will cause us to love others (15-21)

Discussion Questions

• How does God abide in us?

• How does it logically connect that if we abide in love, we abide in God?

• What would a person abiding in love look like?

• When someone sees you, do they see someone abiding in love?

• How can we have confidence to face the judgment?

• What does it mean that there is no fear in love?

• Can you give any examples of how this works?

• Why do we love God? Why are we able to love others?

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