By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35 ESV)
Love and Love
Another word for ‘disciple’ might be ‘fanatic.’
Some time ago, I joined a discussion group for close-up magicians. The group talks about recent technological advances in sleight-of-hand illusions. But in reading the discussions, I have realized that I do not fit in with the group. Because they are fanatics. Apparently, these folk go through their days constantly looking for opportunities to display their tricks. They are eager to pull out a deck of cards, a coin, or some magical gadget and perform at any opportunity.
They live to show their skills.
Instead of magic-performing, Jesus’ fanatics grow to have a fanatical attitude about loving. We do not merely love… but we love to love.
We have been so imploded by God’s love, that we can now not help but love. We do not love grudgingly (what would that even look like?) We do not love cautiously. We do not love conditionally. We do not love slowly. We do not love only when appropriate. We do not love halfway. We do not love sleepily.
We live to love.
Do not despair if you are not there, yet. We will become more Christlike the longer we live in Christ. And the more we love, the more we will love to love.
And then comes heaven. Heaven will be filled with this kind of fanatic. The last wisps of our selfishness will evaporate when we get to heaven. The last shadow that prevents us from seeing Christ’s light will disappear when we get to heaven. The last iota of caution, insecurity, pride, and fear that presently hinder our love of loving will be erased.
We will love to love, and we will GET to love. All the time.
Take the love God grants us.