Discipline: In Love Unconditional
“This is my commandment, that you love one another
as I have loved you.” (John 15:12).
In this Lent Season that began on 10th Feb, we will be taking time to study about Spiritual Disciplines. Before we begin the list, let us visit one of those places where discipline is required if there is to be life – and that place is love. The things people do for love – it’s amazing: regular visitations – whether it shines or rains, regular communication – no matter how much distance separates them, regular giving and receiving of things and gifts, regular fellowship – quality time together, defending each other – including going with him to court when he is being charged, the list goes on; and some of these are involuntary. In fact if you do these for a person you do not love, love will surely sprout and grow. Is this what Jesus meant when He said, ‘love one another’?
Well, since He said, ‘as I have loved you’, we must check what Jesus did for love, in order to follow the example. Yes, there is sexual love between people the opposite sex, and there is love for family (fileo love), but what is indispensable in all relationships is what Jesus calls us to. The two types above remain inadequate – none can stand alone –until they breathe in the type of love Jesus calls us to. The two are not the ways Jesus called us to love, although he did not forbid them; rather he explicitly called us higher to love as he loved. Even in the absence of the two types above, the love Jesus called us to will stand and enrich those who possess it. It is unconditional love.
Indeed the shortfalls of our loves are not few: there is a hurting mother whose husband does not know details of what goes on with his children, and therefore cannot support them enough; there is a hurting man whose lover left without reason and moved in with another man; a picture of lovebirds is published when one has killed the other for some petty reason – and such stories go on and on. The five love languages are several times forgotten. The failures are given propping reasons, but the consequences are dire and damaging. We need Jesus’ love, no matter what kind of relationship.
For our Lord, love was his discipline, it was his lifestyle. He stooped low and left all his glories and called them friends (who were really his servants); he loved them patiently and drew them close without looking at their inadequacies. He did not throw them out when they fought or when they failed some in tasks. He laid down his life and gave the ultimate sacrifice. And yet he would not get back anything significant – material or otherwise! As a believer, determine to follow the example of our Lord to build a bond of love that will stand the test of time. Make love your discipline and you will be blessed indeed.
God bless you as you all.