There is a story in the Bible, in the book of John, that describes the encounter between Jesus and a woman at a well. While Jesus rests at a well, a woman approaches. Jesus asks her for a drink. Surprised, the woman wonders why Jesus would ask her for a drink, because she is a Samaritan. During that day, Jews would not associate with Samaritans. But Jesus doesn't care. He has one goal in mind - He must love. He tells the woman He wants to give her water, but not just any water. This is living water. Jesus says:
“Everyone who drinks from this water will get thirsty again. But whoever drinks from the water that I will give him will never get thirsty again—ever! In fact, the water I will give him will become a well of water springing up within him for eternal life.” (John 4:13-14)
He offers the woman eternal life. When everyone else was hating her for who she was and what she believed, Jesus ignored all of that. He loved her.
The greatest love ever is the love God has for His people. Throughout the Bible this is exhibited. Like a good parent, God punishes when punishment is needed. But He also is always there when His people need Him. Perhaps the greatest act of love was the death of Jesus Christ. Sent by God, Jesus had one purpose, and that was to love. He came to show us how to love. And in the ultimate act of love, he died for us.
We are called to love each other as Jesus loved us. This means serving those around us in love. It shouldn't bother us that other people hate us when we love them. In a world that seems to be lacking in compassion, it should be the children of God who make every effort to love those around us. And we should love like we are told to by God, not the way the world tells us. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 says:
"Love is patient, love is kind. Love does not envy, is not boastful, is not conceited, does not act improperly, is not selfish, is not provoked, and does not keep a record of wrongs. Love finds no joy in unrighteousness but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for languages, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end."
When we are patient with those around us, we are loving. When we are kind, we are loving. Love is more than a dry feeling to be applied to everything we have a feeling for. It is the willingness to be a light in a dark world, to die for your friend, to feed the sick and clothe the naked. This is not just boyfriend-girlfriend love. This is God-Humanity love. This is the love shown for us by Jesus when He was nailed to the cross. When He was hanging there, held to the wood by nails through his hands and feet, He felt nothing but love for the people He was dying for. He even forgave the Romans who killed Him.
Jesus is the King of Love. He is the ultimate example of how to love, why to love, and who to love. We may not all be faced with execution for the lives of others. But we will be faced with situations in which we have a choice to act in love or to act as the world acts.
Through the love of Jesus we were given eternal life. This is true love, worthy to be shared with the world. It should drive us to live as Children of God; we need to live according to Romans 12:9:
"Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good."
H.W Baker put it best when he wrote:
The King of love my shepherd is,
whose goodness faileth never.
I nothing lack if I am his,
and he is mine forever.
