Re:Verse reading–James 2:14-26 (day two) “And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,” and he was called the friend of God. vs. 23b
I love my wife. Over 17 years ago I stood in front of the church and declared to her and to God that I loved my wife. Now everyone knows that I love her, and that is the end of that.
…that’s not how it works. We both know that. My love for my wife is ever-growing. I express it to her in a thousand ways, and I still fail to sufficiently acknowledge how much she means to me. I tell her I love her, I send her a text at work. I will buy flowers, or gifts, or make the bed in the morning. Large gestures or small, they each speak to my love for my beloved.
Why then do we bristle when we read this passage from James. My love and commitment to Jesus is the greatest call on my life, so shouldn’t my life be marked by evidence of that love? Just as I want April to know that I cherish her, so, too, do I want Jesus to know that I am fully his. I long to be like Abraham and be considered a friend of God.
I always believe that words and concrete actions must go hand in hand and you have demonstrated that. Yes, in every loving friendship and relationship, such as the love for a spouse, for our children, for a friend, for a colleague, for a community, for a church, and for GOD, we need to build a strong foundation. Of course, there are many types of love and depending on the type of love, we act on it appropriately!
Building a strong foundation of loving, caring and concerns for one another in any relationship is crucial as it will give us the ability to weather the storms life creates on any human being. The love for Jesus, in my view, will give us the wisdom to spread love and to have the compassion toward others, especially toward those who are most vulnerable in our society and in our surroundings. Wherever Jesus went, He healed the sick and showed tremendous compassion for the sick. He is a loving God! He shows us what love means! He is my God, the only God!
Phuong Callaway’s insight: when dealing with love, we must try to relate everything to Jesus Christ and his life, death and resurrection. In the life and death of Christ we see in a new way what God’s love is and what man’s love for God and for others should be. And through faith, the Spirit of Christ, living in us enables us to follow his example.
The Meanings of Love in the Bible | Desiring God
http://www.desiringgod.org/articles/the-meanings-of-love-in-the-bible