The Love Shift

People should be able to know we are Christians by our words and actions. We shouldn’t have to tell people what we believe because they should be able to sense something is different about us when they are around us. This is not to say we pretend everything is wonderful when it isn’t, but when people interact with us, they should sense the hope we have in Jesus. But that isn’t always the case. Though we all say and do unchristian-like things at times, our true character should make others feel safe and accepted. Others should be able to see Jesus through your words and actions. I hope you’ll join me as we talk about important conversation about what it looks like to show Christian love in our crazy world today. 

It’s important to remember that no matter how hard we try, no one will ever get this perfectly on this side of heaven. We all mess up and get this wrong at times, so please don’t think this is a conversation where we get permission to judge those we believe are falling short. That is not the purpose of this conversation. Instead, I invite you to take this opportunity to search inside yourself to determine how you are doing in your walk of faith. I hope you will take these next few minutes and evaluate how your actions align with how God would like us to act. Remember, we may be the only face of Jesus some people will ever see. 

Paul reminds us to lead a life worthy of our calling in the fourth chapter of Ephesians. We are privileged to be Christ’s chosen ones, and that honor comes with a responsibility to represent Him in a favorable light to others. I love to think of it as not only shining our light into the world but allowing people to see Jesus through us. If that is our goal, we are to be peaceful, humble, gentle, patient, and understanding, not just when times are good but also in stressful and overwhelming times. You can be sure people are watching us all the time to see how we act, especially in times of trouble. 

We all know someone we can point to who behaves in a way that is contrary to our faith. When we see them act that way, I urge you to pray for that person rather than judge them for their words or actions. Be gentle with them. See if you can look at the situation from their perspective and understand why they responded the way they did. If possible, help them see things differently so they can learn to handle situations more lovingly. Paul continues by reminding us constantly to be humble, gentle, and patient with each other. He even goes so far as to say we are to make allowances for each other’s faults because of our love. That seems like good advice for our loved ones at home or even at church, but he also wants us to respond that way at work and in other public places where people who experience life differently from us are. 

I love how the authors of the book, Lead Like Jesus, explain that leading like Jesus is so much more than what we do; it’s about who we are being. It’s about modeling Jesus’ character by serving others from a loving heart. To make this point, they challenge the reader to read 1 Corinthians 13 from the perspective of doing without regard to who we are being. 

My first instinct was to skip over this exercise. Assuming you may be inclined to do that too, please bear with me as I read it for you now. It was eye-opening for me, and it may be for you too. As you listen, focus on the importance of who we are being when we do the things Christ calls us to do.

If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it, but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing. 

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. 

Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever! Now our knowledge is partial and incomplete, and even the gift of prophecy reveals only part of the whole picture! But when the time of perfection comes, these partial things will become useless. When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely. 

Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love. 

I love how the authors wrap up this section with this statement. The math is pretty simple: Everything – Love = Nothing!

Do you see it? God not only wants to have a deeper relationship with us, but he also wants all of us to have a deeper relationship with each other. Many things in our world divide our families, community, and even our churches, but Paul urges us to walk with one another in unity in Christ. The church consists of all who believe in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. We all do it differently, and as I’ve discussed in recent episodes, we must do so with an awareness of those who will lead us astray. Regardless of whether the person we interact with agrees with our view or not or lives in a “Christ-like” manner, we are to treat them with kindness, offer grace where they fall short, and guide them to the truth if given the opportunity. 

The song, They will know we are Christians by Our Love is a beautiful reminder that the Holy Spirit unites us, and everyone should be able to see our Lord through our words and actions. Indeed, by your love. 

Watch the video here.

Our world is reeling once again as we mourn the loss of children after another tragic and senseless school shooting. No matter where you stand on the solution to that problem, I think we can all agree that it doesn’t make sense, and we want it to stop. Sadly, our world is full of evil, and we will always divide over what is right and wrong and how to “fix” the problem. While we are on this side of heaven, there will always be pain, and there will always be mourning. And therefore, there will always be an opportunity to show Jesus’ love.

Our hearts break every time we hear of another senseless death, but it hits home when we know someone directly impacted. I recently learned that my grandson lost a friend in a tragic accident. I would give anything to take his pain away. But I am not able to do that. I asked a friend who works with hurting children what resources she could recommend for a grieving young person, and her answer was perfect. She reminded me that all I needed to do was hold him, be there for him, and love on him–to be Jesus for him while he processes his loss. Isn’t it ironic that she gave me the same advice I was preparing for you today? Just be the hands of Jesus to the people in our lives. Love them, hold them, and show them the hope we have in His resurrection.

We are called to shine Jesus’s light into the world. We won’t always do so perfectly. I pray that we can all bring a sense of peace to the people and situations in our lives and help them see Jesus through your words and actions.

It’s so simple, and yet it can be so hard. But God will give us the courage, the strength, and even the words to say. I was humbled as I picked up my book, A Different View, to prepare for this episode. Once again, I was amazed to see how well the words fit our situation in the world today. I encourage you to read or reread chapter 11, the Love Shift if you haven’t lately. I am blessed and amazed that God asked me to share that message in this podcast and the book.  Click the button to download a free copy of the chapter. 

I will close today with the verse I open that chapter with, 

“Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. And do everything with love. 1 Corinthians 16:13-14 NLT. 

Thanks for reading this blog post today. It is also shared as a podcast if you wold like to listen on your favorite podcast platform or go here.

See you next time when we’ll talk about the success shift. Til then go, be blessed, and always live your more!