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Love is an action

Loving our neighbor as God loves us

Ted Ancelet, Senior Chaplain

A young woman embraces her neighbor
These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.
You are my friends if you do what I command you.
— Jesus, John 15:11-14 ESV

We all long to feel joy. So why does it seem fleeting at best and unattainable at worst?

One of our greatest hindrances to joy isn’t adversity but familiarity. Have you noticed that we tend to skim over the things we recognize? I think if I recognize it, I already know it, so I can move on.

The thing is, when something becomes overly common to us, we can lose the sense of wonder and awe that once filled our soul and moved us to act. For example, we hear words like “joy” and “love” so often that they lose their depth and meaning.

When we feel less love and joy, we have less to share with others, shrinking our potential to impact those around us and bring more joy into the world. This reality is important to reflect on because who doesn’t want more joy? More love? More impact?

Years ago, a mentor told me, “Scripture is meant to slow us down.” He wasn’t speaking to how quickly we read, but to how long we spend thinking about what we read—especially when it’s a familiar passage.

This is one reason why prayerfully reflecting on the scriptures we read is so important for us as Christians. Meditating on God’s Word slows us down so the Spirit can stir curiosity, which leads to insight, which stimulates wonder, which fuels action.

So, let’s pause together at the words of Jesus and see where he leads.

“... love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”

It’s important to understand that the love referenced in these verses and elsewhere in Scripture isn’t just a feeling. It’s an action.

That’s not to say feelings aren’t part of love; they are, but they’re secondary. Feelings are internal and known only to the person experiencing them. Actions are external. When we understand love as an action, we move it out of our internal world and into the world around us, where others can experience it and benefit from it. This is demonstrated most beautifully in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son.”

Speaking of Jesus, in John 15, he illustrates that the love he calls us to is a particular kind of action. Love is placing the welfare of others above our own, especially those in greatest need: the overlooked and ignored (see Matthew 25:40 MSG).

As followers of Christ, our motivation to live out this self-sacrificing love flows from the love Christ has shown to us. He is our source and our strength.

In Ephesians 5:1-2, Paul writes, “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God” (ESV).

As we walk in love, our joy is made full. And that’s a beautiful way to live. Sacrifice leads to serenity.

Love is an action. For 80 years, Bethany staff have sought to walk in love. In doing so, we desire to fulfill the command Christ demonstrated for us to be a “fragrant offering” in our world. Our services and programs may change over time, but the mission of loving our neighbor is steadfast and will always define who we are.

Join us as we seek to share the love and compassion of Jesus by protecting children, empowering youth, and strengthening families. Together, with great purpose, we can share love and hope with the forgotten and marginalized in our communities and experience the fullness of joy that follows.

Find out how to partner with Bethany to show love in your community.

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