Supernatural living includes supernatural loving “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must also love one another.” John 13:34 We are instructed to love others as God loves us, but what does that look like? I love you whether you do well or not After Jesus was baptised by John he heard these words from his Father, “This is my son, in him I am well pleased.” Jesus had not begun his ministry at the point of his baptism. He had been living a simple life working as a carpenter, the trade of his father Joseph, and he did not marry, which was culturally unusual. He then rocks up at the Jordan River and hears God declare that he pleases him. Without having ‘achieved’ anything yet, he pleased God. That is a massive lesson in both love and identity - you do not have to prove yourself worthy to receive it. And so, we must mirror God’s love and not ask anyone to prove themselves worthy of our love, but simply love them. I forgive you Colossians 3:13 says “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”
The Lord has forgiven us much. We were all lost in our transgressions until God made the ultimate sacrifice in order to forgive our sins. The next time someone offends you, forgive them, remembering all the ways God has forgiven you. I celebrate you It is easy in this culture to become very self-focussed when we are constantly told that we are ‘worth it’ and encouraged to ‘spoil ourselves’. However, supernatural love is extravagant and it celebrates others. In the story of the prodigal son found in Luke we see a father put on a banquet to celebrate the return of his lost son. Luke 15:22-24 says, “‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.” This celebration was all in honour of a son who had squandered his father’s money and lived wildly. Within the father’s response we see all three elements of this supernatural love Duncan spoke of coming together. He loves his son even when he hasn’t done well, he forgives his son for his actions and he celebrates him with an extravagant party upon his return home. Let us all go out and love with this supernatural love.
Written by Lucy Maddox