Thursday, October 17, 2024

Christian Love (2 Corinthians 7:2-7)

"... I have said before that you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together" (2 Cor. 7:3).

We now shift our study from holiness to Christian love. Paul’s love for the Corinthians seems to have been extraordinary. No matter what they had done, he loved them all the more. Because he loved them so, he was often deeply worried about their spiritual state. When they had fallen into sin, he prayed for them and was filled with fear for their souls until he received encouraging news from Titus. Even though the Corinthians did not fully return his love, Paul continued to love them. He could not even admonish them for their hardness of heart because he was so overwhelmed with joy and love for them.

How many of us can say that we love those who turn their backs on us, who refuse to open their hearts to us when we have completely opened our hearts to them? More often than not, when someone does not return our love, we write them off, we close up our hearts. Paul did not do this. He persevered in his love toward the Corinthians. When they were in sin, he rebuked them and called them to repentance. And all the while, he prayed for them and earnestly longed for their repentance. When he finally received word that they had turned from their sin, he could not contain his joy.

Do you worry over the spiritual state of loved ones as Paul did? Do you pray fervently for them until they repent? Do you admonish them out of love? Do you persevere in your love toward them even when that love is not returned? Do you overflow with joy when they turn to the Lord? Let us not skim past such considerations lightly. To emulate Paul’s character is very difficult. He did not just tolerate people, he loved them. He did not overlook their sin with a sentimental notion of love, but he admonished them. He did not coldly rebuke them, but he prayed continually for them and worried over them. Even when they did not love him back, he rejoiced in their standing in Christ, he delighted in them as fellow believers.

This selfless love is truly rare. Only by looking to Christ, who is our supreme example of sacrificial and wise love, can we truly love others despite their failures, sin, and hardness of heart. Christ loved us while we were yet sinners. May we faithfully love those whom Christ has loved.

Write to a Christian friend whom you think you have not loved as you should. If it is because of their sin, admonish them but tell them you are praying for them and worrying about them. If it is because of their hardness of heart, tell them you love them anyway and will always rejoice because of their faith in Christ.