If you really know and love God, then by If you really know and love God, you would exhibit your love nature towards other people by default.
An Exemplary Teacher with a Love Nature
A couple years ago, I watched a movie by Matthew Perry (Chandler in “Friends”, one of my favourite sitcoms). The title of the movie was “The Ron Clark Story“.
In the movie, Matthew portrayed the exemplary leadership of Ron Clark, an elementary school teacher, who had to put up with some very hostile children at a New York City public school.
The children in the school were so horrible to him that they succeeded in making him quit his job at some point.
However, on the encouragement of a friend, Ron decided to go back to his job and try again.
Ron was so committed to the children I thought it was absurd.
Ron continued to face constant rejection and hostile behaviour from some of the kids, but decided to love them regardless. He went as far as meeting some of them after school to give free one-to-one coaching so they could get up to scratch – even when they loathed him. He even supported one of the girls who was very rude and disruptive in class, by supporting her at home after school. Ron helped to look after her younger ones and cooked dinner for them while she revised her schoolwork after school.
Eventually, the school was able to make a new record with all the pupils passing their major exams – a feat the school had not achieved before.
It’s all about Love
At the end of the movie, I realised that it was a true story and decided to do some research.
It turns out Ron Clark, portrayed in the The Ron Clark Story movie, is actually a Christian, as well as a revolutionary Educator, New York Times bestselling author and motivational speaker on the topic of inspiring educators. 1
Ron’s work includes “The Essential 55: An Award-Winning Educator’s Rules for Discovering the Successful Student in Every Child (2003)”. The movie actually portrayed some of Ron’s proposed rules as well.
I saw the movie around the time when we had just suffered some terrorist attacks in the UK, and it got me thinking that the problem with our world today is that of a lack of love.
The movie made me realise that people with love in their hearts would not go about stabbing or shooting innocent people or blowing up places or trains.
Love God, Love Yourself, Love Others
Jesus, when He walked the earth, said, “…you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind…and you shall love your neighbour as yourself.” Matthew 22: 37 – 39.
If you love your neighbour as you love yourself, you would not stab them, just as you would not stab yourself. Well at least most people would not stab themselves.
Some people may argue that some people hate themseleves, self-harm or get suicidal or are brainwashed into committing suicide or dying for a “good” cause.
However, the Bible says, “God is Love” – 1 John 4: 8. Therefore, most Christians who believe God and try to love Him and obey His commandments, strive to live in love, just like Ron Clark walked in unconditional love towards those children. He was a Christian and so he was “Christ-like” and had a love nature just like Christ.
Jesus Christ would not have retaliated or harmed others wilfully, neither did Ron because he was Christ-like. And neither would most Christians who love God and strive to be like God. Why? Because they love God. If God is love, it would explain why most Christians or anyone with a love nature would love other people.
Those who truly Love God Love Others
In a world where most people believe their religion to be supreme, I believe that those who truly love God and serve God’s purposes would walk in love because God is Love.
Love is God’s nature, and by extension, it is the nature of His children, to love. Therefore, anyone who believes God is their heavenly Father must walk in love towards other people.
1 John 4: 7 – 8 helps to really drive home this message. It says, “Beloved let us love one another: for love is of God and he that loves is born of God (is a true child of God) and knows God. He that does not love (show love in his disposition and character) does NOT know God for God IS love.” (Parentheses and emphases mine).
Jesus also said, “Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” John 13: 35 NLT.
Exhibit Your Love Nature
Do you really “know” God? Are you really a “child” of God?
God is love personified. Therefore, if you really are a true child of God, you will have His love nature as a dominant feature.
If you really know and love God, you will exhibit your love nature towards other people by default.
How have you walked in love towards other people?
Do you have tips on how people could better exhibit their love nature?
References
A Walk on Water Moment with Stella Onogoro
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