In the letter to the Ephesians 3:18-19, the apostle Paul tells the church that “[they] may be able to comprehend with the saints what is the width and length and height and depth [of God’s love]. And to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that [they] may be filled to all the fullness of God”. How amazing! Through this, the apostle emphasizes that love is not just knowledge; it’s not information we gather from reading a book or watching a video. Really, we can only truly experience the richness of love through the saints. In short, Paul is saying that love is both a relationship with others, as well as an interaction with them.
Such a declaration from the apostle should not surprise us when we observe how our Lord Jesus lived his earthly life. He interacted and related daily with others. He did not spend his life in isolation from others. He balanced His daily solitude with His relationships with others. In fact, the Bible informs us that Jesus was involved in the heart of relational affairs. He traveled to cities and villages, met others in synagogues, and visited them in their houses. He attended festivities and performed miracles during weddings, to the point that some accused him of being a glutton, focused on eating and partying. Those who accuse have failed (miserably) to understand that Jesus wasn’t after food and drink, but after meeting others in places where he could listen to them, preach, and heal them.
Love is not just any interaction. Once we experience God’s love, we will be empowered to walk in love towards others. The apostle Paul explains the characteristics of walking in love in chapter 13 of the first letter to the Corinthians; stating that love protects, honors, speaks the truth, and inspires hope. The Bible states in the letter to Rome, chapter 13:8 that all human beings “owe nothing to anyone except to love one another, for the one who loves his neighbor, has fulfilled the law”.
My beloved audience, Jesus is not a one-way ticket to forgiveness. I don’t mean to diminish the good news about the glorious salvation—Jesus came to give us a divine life, the life of walking in love and interacting with others. Therefore, we should examine the characteristics of our relationships with others; for if we find them flawed or lacking the characteristics of walking in love, we can start fresh and re-relate.
Successful relationships are not forged through luck, sheer determination, or even passion. The path to relational success is a deliberate journey that requires relational skills like staying connected, building trust, wholeheartedly listening, and managing conflicts.
I understand that some may object and feel that this is a lot to do. However, Jesus promised us that the holy spirit will guide us to the truth, strengthen us, and celebrate our successes. Indeed, He is our partner in the journey towards maturity in loving and serving. He is the God of love and life. To Him be all the glory. Amen.
