CityView Magazine

22 | November/December 2017 F A I T H A Almost every group features a distinction or two – those emblematic markers that define a particular population. For some groups it is an affinity or aversion; for others it is an ideology or pursuit. It could be a style of dress, type of music, certain athletic team or hobby. Whatever particularity, it is the thing that says, "is is us." Despite a huge diversity in thought and expression, Christianity has (or should have) such a defining characteristic. Curiously, if you were to survey a group of respondents and query as to what this characteristic is, there would, no doubt, be sufficient answers as to demonstrate the milieu that comprises a diverse population. While many of these answers would expose a rich heritage of belief, there is one that Jesus himself offered to define those who were His followers. It's love. e Apostle John recorded this directive in his Gospel (John 13:35 NIV): "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." Jesus adjured his disciples, and all who would ultimately call themselves by that name, to demonstrate their fealty by living the lifestyle of love that He modeled so perfectly. His desire was a revolution of love that would draw a desperate population into a relationship with God – a God so loving, that he would lay His own life down for their eternal benefit. Jesus made love his trademark. His commandment was that His love should be Christianity's brand. Be defined by this way of living, was his call. He chartered them (us) to "love one another" but he didn't stop there. Jesus extended his requirement of love to everyone. In Matthew 5:44, He instructed his disciples to "love your enemies." He wasn't satisfied with an insular group who were generous only to those who were like them. Instead, He desired a community of people – impacted by his love, ready to share that love with any and all in need. en and now, love is the defining characteristic of those who follow Jesus. References about love abound throughout the pages of Scripture. On top of that, volumes of books have considered love as a topic. You can find messages, podcasts, blogs, articles, wall hangings and coffee mugs all expounding the definition and nature of love. In this brief space, it would be impossible to offer an exhaustive treatment of love. Please do consider, however, the following three important truths about love: True Love is derivative of God's Love To love another truly, it fully requires that we have received God's love ourselves. As John mentioned in 1 John 4:7-8 (NIV), "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love." To love in the style of Jesus requires that his follower knows Him. Further, love is not a construct of humanity. Rather, love flows from God. His desire is that those who have encountered his love would share it with all they come in contact with. True Love is always self-sacrificial Jesus' example of love was to lay down his life. For us. When we were at our worst. He offers fellowship in this type of love to all who would follow his example. It is in this style that love truly becomes revolutionary. It is a commonality of humanity that we live with self as the first concern of our lives. We are self-absorbed, self-centered and It's Love BY JONATHAN FLETCHER

• Cover