BAT: Be. Act. Teach.
Love: The Essence of Our Being and Doing
In a world often divided by labels and differences, we are reminded of a profound truth: love is at the core of our existence and purpose. It's not merely an emotion or a fleeting feeling, but the very fabric of who we are as children of God.
The apostle Paul, in his letter to the Colossians, offers us a powerful perspective on love and identity. He urges us to put away anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk - all remnants of our old selves. Instead, we are called to put on the new self, renewed in the image of our Creator. This transformation isn't superficial; it's a fundamental shift in our being.
In Christ, Paul tells us, there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free. These worldly distinctions fade away in the light of our true identity in Christ. We are first and foremost His, and that identity supersedes all others.
This truth challenges us to reconsider how we view ourselves and others. Do we define ourselves by our nationality, our job title, our family role? While these aspects of our lives are important, they are secondary to our identity in Christ. When we truly grasp this, it changes how we interact with the world around us.
Consider the story of a young woman named Sydney, who found her power in living on the edge of suicide. How tragic that she couldn't see her inherent worth and the love she was already sharing with those around her! It's a stark reminder of how easily we can lose sight of our true value when we forget who we are in Christ.
Love, as we're reminded, is both a noun and a verb. It's who we are and what we do. As believers, love is built into our spiritual DNA. It's not something we manufacture or fake; it flows from the very essence of our being in Christ. This love is unconditional, irrevocable, and draws people closer to God and to one another.
But love isn't always easy. It often requires us to clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. These are the garments of love that we must consciously put on each day. We're called to bear with one another, to forgive as the Lord has forgiven us, and to let love bind everything together in perfect harmony.
In our social media-driven world, there's a dangerous narrative that we can love without relationship, that we can simply cut people out of our lives when things get difficult. But this isn't the way of Christ. Jesus never leaves us, even when we stray. He pursues us relentlessly, loving us through our worst moments. We're called to do the same - to fight for relationships, to grind through the tough times, to stay connected even when it's painful.
Remember the image of Christ carrying His cross to Calvary. He could have walked away, but He chose to endure for the sake of love. This is our model - a love that perseveres, that chooses relationship even when it hurts.
But why should we love like this? Why put ourselves through the pain and difficulty? The answer lies in the joy and peace that come from living out our true identity in Christ. This isn't a fleeting happiness based on circumstances, but a deep, abiding joy that persists even in the darkest times.
Consider the man who experienced joy even while enduring horrific experiments in Auschwitz. This supernatural joy isn't tied to our external circumstances but flows from our connection to Christ. It's a peace that surpasses all understanding, a joy that the world cannot give or take away.
When we gather to serve, to worship, to simply be together as the body of Christ, we experience this joy. It's found in the shared laughter as we decorate for Christmas, in the deep conversations that strengthen our bonds, in the simple act of showing up for one another time and time again.
As we reflect on these truths, let's remember that love is not an adjective describing how we feel. It's a noun - who we are in Christ. And it's a verb - what we do as we pour ourselves out for others. This love is unconditional, irrevocable, and draws people closer to God and to one another.
In a world that often seems fractured and divided, we are called to be living examples of Christ's unifying love. We put aside our differences, recognizing that in Christ, there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free. We are all children of God, called to love one another as He has loved us.
This love - Christ's redeeming love - is the most powerful force in the world. It has the power to heal broken relationships, to bridge seemingly insurmountable divides, to bring light to the darkest places of human experience.
As we go about our daily lives, let's carry this truth with us: We are love because Christ dwells in us. We are called to act in love, even when it's difficult. We are meant to teach others about this love through our words and actions. And as we do so, we will experience the eternal peace and joy that come from living out our true identity in Christ.
May we be people who are known by our love - a love that is patient and kind, that does not envy or boast, that is not arrogant or rude. A love that bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. For this love, which comes from Christ and flows through us, never ends.
The apostle Paul, in his letter to the Colossians, offers us a powerful perspective on love and identity. He urges us to put away anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk - all remnants of our old selves. Instead, we are called to put on the new self, renewed in the image of our Creator. This transformation isn't superficial; it's a fundamental shift in our being.
In Christ, Paul tells us, there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free. These worldly distinctions fade away in the light of our true identity in Christ. We are first and foremost His, and that identity supersedes all others.
This truth challenges us to reconsider how we view ourselves and others. Do we define ourselves by our nationality, our job title, our family role? While these aspects of our lives are important, they are secondary to our identity in Christ. When we truly grasp this, it changes how we interact with the world around us.
Consider the story of a young woman named Sydney, who found her power in living on the edge of suicide. How tragic that she couldn't see her inherent worth and the love she was already sharing with those around her! It's a stark reminder of how easily we can lose sight of our true value when we forget who we are in Christ.
Love, as we're reminded, is both a noun and a verb. It's who we are and what we do. As believers, love is built into our spiritual DNA. It's not something we manufacture or fake; it flows from the very essence of our being in Christ. This love is unconditional, irrevocable, and draws people closer to God and to one another.
But love isn't always easy. It often requires us to clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. These are the garments of love that we must consciously put on each day. We're called to bear with one another, to forgive as the Lord has forgiven us, and to let love bind everything together in perfect harmony.
In our social media-driven world, there's a dangerous narrative that we can love without relationship, that we can simply cut people out of our lives when things get difficult. But this isn't the way of Christ. Jesus never leaves us, even when we stray. He pursues us relentlessly, loving us through our worst moments. We're called to do the same - to fight for relationships, to grind through the tough times, to stay connected even when it's painful.
Remember the image of Christ carrying His cross to Calvary. He could have walked away, but He chose to endure for the sake of love. This is our model - a love that perseveres, that chooses relationship even when it hurts.
But why should we love like this? Why put ourselves through the pain and difficulty? The answer lies in the joy and peace that come from living out our true identity in Christ. This isn't a fleeting happiness based on circumstances, but a deep, abiding joy that persists even in the darkest times.
Consider the man who experienced joy even while enduring horrific experiments in Auschwitz. This supernatural joy isn't tied to our external circumstances but flows from our connection to Christ. It's a peace that surpasses all understanding, a joy that the world cannot give or take away.
When we gather to serve, to worship, to simply be together as the body of Christ, we experience this joy. It's found in the shared laughter as we decorate for Christmas, in the deep conversations that strengthen our bonds, in the simple act of showing up for one another time and time again.
As we reflect on these truths, let's remember that love is not an adjective describing how we feel. It's a noun - who we are in Christ. And it's a verb - what we do as we pour ourselves out for others. This love is unconditional, irrevocable, and draws people closer to God and to one another.
In a world that often seems fractured and divided, we are called to be living examples of Christ's unifying love. We put aside our differences, recognizing that in Christ, there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free. We are all children of God, called to love one another as He has loved us.
This love - Christ's redeeming love - is the most powerful force in the world. It has the power to heal broken relationships, to bridge seemingly insurmountable divides, to bring light to the darkest places of human experience.
As we go about our daily lives, let's carry this truth with us: We are love because Christ dwells in us. We are called to act in love, even when it's difficult. We are meant to teach others about this love through our words and actions. And as we do so, we will experience the eternal peace and joy that come from living out our true identity in Christ.
May we be people who are known by our love - a love that is patient and kind, that does not envy or boast, that is not arrogant or rude. A love that bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. For this love, which comes from Christ and flows through us, never ends.
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