Trademark (n):
a symbol word or words legally registered
or established by use as representing a company or product
a distinctive characteristic or an object
Trademarked (v):
provide with a trademark
identify (a habit, quality, or way of life) as
typical of someone
As I was beginning to write this entry in my journal, I felt the Lord prompt me to look up this definition and so I did and as soon as I read it this phrase popped into my head:
"Love should be the trademark of the Christian"
The topic of loving others and loving in action has been popping up everywhere that I go. I've been asking the Lord over and over again "OK---What do you want me to do with this?". Everytime that I started to ask this I was overwhelmed with this feeling of a call to action. I had no idea what to do with it all, and so I just kept asking and seeking and trying to discover what God was asking me to do.
Then the verse that talks about how people will know we are Christians by our love, or maybe it's a song based off a verse, either way, I once again took to google and that's when I saw John 13:34-35. "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples if you have love for one another". I knew that this was my call to action.
Now I don't know much of the greek language, but I do know that the concept of love has many different meanings in greek and that the fact that this verse mentioned love so many times probably warranted some research. This love, that we are supposed to be trademarked by, is agape love. Agape love is a sacrificial love. It's the love that God demonstrated for us when He sent His Son to die on our behalf. It is selfless. It is sacrificial. It is HARD.
Agape love is an act of will, a decision, a commitment. We are commanded to love one another, as Christ loved us. This standard that is set for us is a high one and not one that can even be done in our own strength. Our emotions are too fleeting to rely on them to carry out this heavy commandment. This command is not meant to feel like slavery, it is not meant to force us into relationships we don't want, but it does mean that we are to love.
This is NOT easy. You WILL face opposition. There will be people that you can't stand, but we are supposed to LOVE them. There will be people that ridicule you for your faith and mock you for your standards. LOVE them. Your family may not understand it and make it hard for you. LOVE them.
Why?
Because the rest of that verse says that ALL people will know that we are His disciples by our LOVE. That is a PROMISE. That love is not a "if you feel like it, love" or a "you're cute" kind of love. This love is HARD. The world will notice Christ and be intrigued by the Gospel, by how we carry out this love because it is RADICAL. And so was Jesus. And so we should be.
Just one chapter later in John 14, John is talking about how if we love the Lord we will keep His commandments. Loving the Lord will transform your attitude about His commandments.
Agape love is an act of will, a decision, a commitment. We are commanded to love one another, as Christ loved us. This standard that is set for us is a high one and not one that can even be done in our own strength. Our emotions are too fleeting to rely on them to carry out this heavy commandment. This command is not meant to feel like slavery, it is not meant to force us into relationships we don't want, but it does mean that we are to love.
This is NOT easy. You WILL face opposition. There will be people that you can't stand, but we are supposed to LOVE them. There will be people that ridicule you for your faith and mock you for your standards. LOVE them. Your family may not understand it and make it hard for you. LOVE them.
Why?
Because the rest of that verse says that ALL people will know that we are His disciples by our LOVE. That is a PROMISE. That love is not a "if you feel like it, love" or a "you're cute" kind of love. This love is HARD. The world will notice Christ and be intrigued by the Gospel, by how we carry out this love because it is RADICAL. And so was Jesus. And so we should be.
Just one chapter later in John 14, John is talking about how if we love the Lord we will keep His commandments. Loving the Lord will transform your attitude about His commandments.
Following God's law without a love for Him, will feel like slavery
but
following those commandments because you love Him, will bring freedom.
Our actions should be an outpouring of our love for Christ and not just us trying to prove that we love Him. Once we understand this concept and try to actually love that way. We can start trademarking Christianity with love, in the world's eyes. In the aforementioned definition of trademark, two parts of it stuck out to me. Both a noun and verb definition. I think right now, we live in the noun part of trademark. Love is a distinctive characteristic of Jesus and it should also be of us, but how radical would Christianity be, if we carried it out in a verb format. What if we actually took the part of the definition that says trademarking is to identify (a habit, a quality, a way of life) as typical of someone and lived love that way? I think that we can do all three. Love can be a habit for us. A quality that people, both Christian and non-Christian, can easily identify as a part of us. Love can be a way of life for us. This agape love is not something that is typical of the world so when we take it on and when we live through the strength of Christ and His love, they will notice. They will see not only the character qualities of love in us, but they will see the action that flows out of that.
I don't know if you've read Bob Goff's book Love Does, but if you haven't you should. The book is just full of stories from Bob's life when he was willing and open to God and when he said yes to loving in action. Some crazy things have happened simply because Bob understands what a lot of us don't, Love Does. It's that simple. Loving people because it is Christ who is loving through us. Bob also talks about how living this way is for God's glory and not for ours. When the verse says that all people we know we are His disciples because of our love, it does not mean that the world will say "oh look at how much good they are doing for others" they should be saying "wow. this love is not typical. I want to know why and who makes them love this way".
My prayer in all of this is that the Lord will love through me. That my love for others will be so active and radical that it points them back to Christ. I want Christ's strength to make me weakness strong. I want to be solely reliant on Him.
My challenge for you is to pray the same. However, something that I am learning is to not be so surprised when He answers. When you ask big things, expect big answers. Even when they are in unexpected ways. When God answers, it will be hard and stretching. Some will be drawn to it and others will run. It is selfless and sacrificial so that means the enemy hates and he will do all he can to throw you off course, but stand strong and love well. We are promised that others will know Christ because of it and that will make all the hard times, worth it.
So next time you have the opportunity love someone (Which won't be long after you've finished reading this) do it. It does not have to be loud or extravagant. You do not need to know greek words and long sermons to accomplish it. You simply love. Love through prayers through your friends, bold and specific ones. Love through prayers for your enemies and in prayers for your heart towards your enemies. Love through listening. Love through sharing scripture. Love as Christ loved, with His strength that He will give you.
Simply love and it will make all the difference.
