CHRIST LIKE LOVE

Easter is the focus of the Christian world this week. 

The Atonement of Christ is the most important event to happen in the history of this earth. 

(See this video)

Not only is Jesus the Redeemer of all who have or will live in mortality, He was also the Creator of this world, under the direction of His Father. 

This is His world and He has proven His love by opening the doors to salvation for all mankind.

There is a lot of talk about ‘love’ of fellowman in the dialogue of our day.  Much of the time it is people (not speaking of any one group so please don’t project) who are inviting us to accept and ‘love’ them for who they are or want to be.  A common method to entice acceptance of their behaviors and/or desires is to cite the Savior’s love for all.

Jesus does love everyone and His love will reach through the eternities.  He will do all we will allow to redeem us and bring us back to our Heavenly Father.  But His love for us is not an excuse to accept actions, desires, or ideas that violate the sacredness of His commandments.  To quote a modern prophet:

Christlike love is the greatest need we have on this planet in part because righteousness was always supposed to accompany it. So if love is to be our watchword, as it must be, then by the word of Him who is love personified, we must forsake transgression and any hint of advocacy for it in others. Jesus clearly understood what many in our modern culture seem to forget: that there is a crucial difference between the commandment to forgive sin (which He had an infinite capacity to do) and the warning against condoning it (which He never ever did even once). (Jeffrey R. Holland)

It is perfectly appropriate to love the sinner, but hate the sin.  In fact, that is exactly what Jesus and our Father are doing when they challenge us to repent.

If we desire to love our fellowman, we will emulate the Savior and the way he treated those of His day. 

Question: What made the Savior so unpopular with the people of His day?

 Answer: Calling them to repentance for their sins.

I’m sure He hurt some feelings, but it was the best way to invite a fallen people (all of us, to one degree or another) to find the life-changing love of our God and His Son, Jesus Christ.

Our love for The Master and any happiness we seek in life comes as we remember His message:

If ye love me, keep my commandments. (John 14:15)

To invite others to follow Christ and join us in learning to overcome sin is the greatest form of love we have to offer.

It’s as simple as that.