Spiritual Well-Being by Angus Buchan pt (vi)

Perfect love casts out fear

In John 15:13, we read "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends." The Lord Jesus Christ is the perfect example of this. He died so that we can live. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that if this world had more love in it, there would be fewer problems. It needs to start with you and me.
The most well-known chapter in the Bible must be 1 Corinthians 13, which talks all about love. Love is practical. When you tell your loved one that you love them, that's a wonderful thing, and we need to do that too, but it always needs to be followed up with action.

Love is patient. It's kind. It's not puffed up or arrogant, says the Bible. So we need to be quick to forgive. We need to be patient and we need to give people a second chance.
The love of Christ has given me a new perspective in life. As a younger man, while still farming, if my workers didn't get it right the first time then there would be trouble. That's not the right attitude at all. some of us learn quicker than others. Others are slow learners and need lots of understanding and encouragement.
Knowing this, we need to start at home with our spouse, with our children and then with our co-workers. We need to ensure that the people working with us, for us, and even those who employ us, know that we love them. People are battling all around us. We need to give them lots of grace - undeserved loving kindness. Everytime I hear the word 'grace', I remember the man who wrote 'Amazing Grace.'

John Newton was the captain of a slave ship, and I don't think there was a more horrific occupation. the slaves would be abused and beaten, and it's believed that only one third loaded onto the sailing ships in Africa would actually reach their destination. Most died en route. When Newton was saved by Jesus Christ he realised what a wretched soul he was, and that's when he wrote: 'Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now I'm found, was blind but now I see." It's that grace that we need to extend to others.

If you find someone whose battled in life, they're often excellent teachers. Why? Because they understand what it's like to struggle, and that's where the love comes in. Through hardship you learn to be patient, and patience shows itself through love.
It's perfect love that will change our nation. It's not tolerance that will make a difference, it's when we really love each other that the Lord will step in and make the difference.
Jesus says that we must love one another and that love must be unconditional. We don't have to accept their actions, but we still need to love the person.