Christianity, in its truest form, runs on the basis of love. In the Holy Bible, the Lord calls believers to love one another as Christ loves us (John 13:34-35). That said, many Christians fall short of this command each and every day. Believers ridicule one another over minor disagreements, churches drown in hatred toward one another and refuse to radiate the unconditional love that they believe Christ showed to them. To make matters worse, many of these Christians acknowledge their shortcomings, but refuse to make any change and remain stagnant in their sin.
The Biblical Foundation of Love
In 1 John 4:8, we receive a reminder that God is love, so whoever does not know him will not be fully capable of loving. Every single action, word and essence of life flows from Christ’s love due to the fact that love is not just a part of His life, but it is His everything. From the moment of creation to the hour of death, the Lord’s love is evident through a variety of daily blessings, such as family, friendship, education, shelter and health. Because of this unconditional love shown to us, we have no reason not to extend the same amount of love to others, yet so many people choose to fill their lives with hate.
The Reality of Hate
Despite the foundation of love being laid out for us multiple times in scripture, many Christians find themselves falling under the spell of hate, slander, malice, deceit and gossip, all sins we receive warning about in the Bible. Countless Christians find it more convenient to hate, because in all honesty, loving unconditionally in a world full of imperfect people is hard. It is much easier to hold a silent grudge or mutter an unkind word than it is to have a wholesome conversation and choose to forgive. That said, John 16:33 reminds believers that the Christian life will not be easy, but Luke 9:23 assures Christians that they must take up their cross daily and follow the Lord and Savior.
What Does it Mean to Take Up Your Cross?
On surface level, taking up your cross means to live a life that embodies Christ-like living and love, but this verse extends into a phenomenon of application that is much more complex. In order to genuinely live a life that embodies this piece of scripture, we must choose sacrifice and obedience over comfort, especially when it feels hard. This is not a one time choice, but rather a daily act of discipleship. Believers are called to die to their flesh each and everyday, and not only persevere through trials, but to find joy in them (James 1:2-4).
How to Take Up Your Cross and Choose Love
The primary step to genuinely take up your cross and to live a life worthy of the Lord’s satisfaction is to love, even when it costs you pride, envy or any other worldly measures that you are holding on to. When someone does you or a loved one wrong, you are called to forgive them without a grudge (Colossians 3:13). When someone needs help, you must cheerfully serve them without expecting anything in return (Luke 6:35). When someone falls into a sinful pattern, you are called to righteously judge them and correct their behavior with love and pure intent (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Love is not a fleeting act that comes and goes depending on the way a person acts, believes or carries themself. Instead, it is an act of sacrifice that must be extended to every single soul on this earth.
Return to Love
Love has no purpose if we are only demonstrating it towards people who look, think or believe the same as we do. True, Christ-like refuses to be confined by means such as race, gender, political or religious beliefs, status or sexuality– it is extended to everyone, regardless of background (1 John 4:20-21). One complex misconception in society is the hierarchy of sin, but that view is far from true, as we are reminded in scripture that, aside from blasphemy, no sin is greater than the other (Romans 1:18-32). With this knowledge in mind, we as believers have no excuse to condemn others when the weight of each sin is equal.
As the body of Christ, our calling is clear. We must love without ceasing, hesitation, boundaries or judgement. We must embody a love that shakes down the walls of prejudice and hate, and we can no longer live a life that tells the story of a fake love that is built on worldly pleasures. When we obey our command to love, we become vessels of Christ, which allows us to live a life that tells of Christ’s endless love and mercy. Through acts of sacrificial love, we break down the barrier of hierarchy, judgement and condemnation, one act at a time.
