The demonstration of love to brothers and sisters in Christ is proof that the Holy Spirit is at work within the hearts of the people in this church.  It’s an evidence of God’s grace at work here because only by the grace of God is genuine, selfless love even a possibility. True faith is expressed through the capacity to act in the best interest of other people without regard for ourselves.  So if we find ourselves:

  • Loving another person who is difficult to love or
  • Helping someone who has no ability to ever return the favor

…it is further evidence that we are being controlled by a loving God and not by our own flesh.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus himself said to “love your enemies” and to “bless those that curse you” and to “do good to those who hate you” and to “pray for those who despitefully use you and persecute you.”  Jesus asked in Matthew 5:46, “46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?”

Jesus said in the previous verses (Matthew 5:44-45) that our love for people who are difficult to love is proof that we really are the children of God and God’s Kids are the inheritors of eternal rewards and infinite treasures.  In Romans 8, Paul calls God’s people, “heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ…”

Jesus is telling his followers to love others like God loves us and He will reward you.