The subject of love among the body of Christ cannot be overemphasized. Love is the basis of our faith and the power behind our salvation. Therefore, it is indispensable to every believer. We absolutely cannot do without it. (Eph. 2:4; 1Jn. 4:8)

The ten commandments have been summed up into two, simple yet powerful commandments: to love God and to love one another (Mk. 12:28-34). Loving God is to do His will (Jn. 14:15). And Jesus tells us the standard by which we are to love one another; the same way He has loved us (Jn. 13:34). He didn’t say to love as we deem fit, He said to love on the same level He loves us. The scripture tells us that there is no greater love than that which Jesus displayed (Jn. 15:13). Ordinarily, it would have been an impossible task to live up to this but we are not left helpless. 

Before discussing how we can love like Christ, it is crucial to establish what it means to love like Christ. 

---

To love like Christ means to love beforehand. The Scripture tells us that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Rom. 5:8). Even before we demanded or sought after His love, He loved us. Many times, we relate with people based on how they treat us. We only love them after they have loved us. But today, God is telling us that He expects a higher standard from His children. He is telling us to love them even when they hate us.

Additionally, to love like Christ is to forgive. We were forgiven because of how much Jesus loved us. He could have made us pay for our former sins despite being saved but He didn’t. He blotted away all of those past mistakes from His memory and gave us a clean slate. You are not where God wants you to be yet if you still hold on to people’s past errors. Let your love for others be a forgiving type. (Col. 3:12-14)

Loving like Christ requires us to give. God’s love gave, so ours must give too. If you’re in a position to help somebody, whether materially, financially, or in other areas, do not hesitate to do good. It is pointless telling an unbeliever that Jesus loves them when they can’t see that love through you. We are saved because God’s love gave us the best gift we could ever need (Jn. 3:16; Rom. 6:23; Rom. 8:32). As His children, we ought to reciprocate this. (Jam. 2:15-16)

There is no partiality with Jesus’s love; ours must mirror that. Jesus loves us all regardless of our financial, social, or economic status. Regardless of our race, age, and sex, He loves us. When He died, He died for Jews, Gentiles, female, male, slave, and free alike. The same way there is no discrimination with His love is the same way we must love everyone equally. (Gal. 3:26-28)

Finally, there is no end to Jesus’ love. His love endures forever and withstands all things. Romans 8:35-39 tells us that absolutely nothing can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus. To love like Him would mean to love continuously, perpetually, and unendingly. 

Choose love, even when the person is giving you reasons to hate. Choose love, even when the person makes it difficult. At the end of the day, we are aiming to please the Master, and no one can claim to know God –let alone please Him –if they lack love. (1 Jn. 4:8)

---

Being a believer is being called to do the impossible. The world may be incapable of love but we know we are very capable. We have everything we need at our disposal to love like Christ. The Bible tells us in Romans 5:5 that the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts, through the Holy Spirit. We already have that love deposited in us. What is left is to share it with others.

Loving people even when they hate you, and praying for your enemies even when they’re after your life is like a thorn in the flesh. It can only take grace. Thankfully, God’s message to us today is that His grace is sufficient for us. No matter how difficult, His grace is sufficient. (2 Cor. 12:9)

Furthermore, the Holy Spirit helps us to do those things that we are naturally incapable of (Jn. 14:16). He helps us love like Christ. He makes the journey easier. The problem is that many of us forget that these things are hard for everyone, even for the “most born-again” person you can think of. But it becomes easier when we rely on the Holy Spirit. It is not normal to look at people who taunt you and pray for their wellbeing but when we allow the Spirit of God to be our source of strength, when we stop trying in our ability, the grace to love comes naturally. 

The world tells us to give our love to only those who deserve it. God wants a higher standard from us. He gave His love when we didn’t deserve it. I believe these are the prayer points we should start having: prayers to become more like Christ. We can never attain that level of being like Him until we love like Him. We can never attain perfection until we have been made perfect in love.