Love and Unity

“The love of God and Jesus was shown, therefore, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). “In this way, the love of God is revealed in that He sent His son to die for us” (1 John 4:9,10). The love of Jesus likewise was crystallized for us in his death: “Greater love hath no man than this, than a man lay down his life for his friends. Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end” (John 15:13; 13:1). If we deny that God gave Jesus to die for us, we turn away from the height of love which God showed. In the sacrifice of Jesus we see the very essence of love, that God gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life. This is the love of God towards us. “God sent his only begotten son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God but He loved us, and sent His son to be the propitiation for our sins” (John 3:16). “Neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:32,38,39). The love of God is so infinitely passionate, gripping, tragic and thereby the more demanding of response.

We can become God’s sons, His own dear children (Romans 8:14-16). We do not demean God by speaking of Him as ‘Father’. He has instead elevated us nearer to His level, in that for those baptized into Christ, they too are sons of God. The love of God was revealed and is required of us, simply because Jesus was the son of God, given to die to enable us to reach up in the Lord “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God and everyone that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another”. We also behave in that attitude and leave the attitude of segregation in our ecclesias. Be completely humble and gentle, be patient bearing with one another in love. We have to make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace (Ephesians 4:2,3). Let us be one in Christ. How can we complete our journey without unity? We are all sinners through Adam, but we have to cope along the way with what Jesus was teaching.

Bro Isaac Guzete (Craigmore, Zimbabwe)