Once again, I borrowed this theme from the Pre-Trek Intensive. Today I focused on pondering the way I treat people, how patient I am , if I am easily provoked, and how I can specifically improve in these areas. I am trying to view every person I am with as Christ would view them.
"How can I develop Christlike love?
The pure love of Christ, known as charity, is the highest,
noblest, and strongest kind of love and the most joyous to the soul. Jesus Christ is the perfect example of charity. In His mortal ministry,
He “went about doing good,” showing tender compassion for the poor,
afflicted, and distressed.
To obtain Christlike love, we must seek it, pray for it, and follow the
example of the Savior in our thoughts, words, and deeds."
(I borrowed some of the following from a lesson in the Young Men Manual)
Others have shown Christlike love towards me when they go out of their way to serve me, whether it is by bringing me cookies or just smiling at me when I am having a bad day. This has a tremendously great effect on me, in that I feel loved and accepted. Instead of feeling left out, I realize that I am cared for. I have felt Christlike love whenever someone genuinely shows their appreciation for me. I have developed Christlike love for others by thinking about how Christ would treat them. We are all sons and daughters of Heavenly Father, and our older Brother wants us to love each other.
We have opportunities to show Christlike
love every time we see someone in need of a friend. If there is a brand-new student at school, a new face at church, or a new co-worker, we should make them feel welcome. If someone is going through difficult trials, we should offer our service and love. It is important that we learn how to love others as Christ
did because Christ wants us to use our talents and knowledge for the work of God, and that is loving others and hastening the conversion of members.
Prayerfully study the following scriptures, talks, and videos and ponder how you can reach out to the people you see every day.
- 1 Samuel 16:7 But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.
- Luke 10:30–37 30 And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.
31 And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.
33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,
34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.
36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?
37 And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.
- Luke 23:33–34 33 And
when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they
crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other
on the left. 34 ¶Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
- John 15:9–13 9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. 10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. 11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. 12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. 13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
- 1 John 4:7–11, 18–21 7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. 9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
...
18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 19 We love him, because he first loved us. 20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.
- Moroni 7:45–48 45 And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked,
thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the
truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things,
endureth all things.
46 Wherefore,
my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for
charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the
greatest of all, for all things must fail—
47 But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.
48 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray
unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled
with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen.
"There are many attributes which are manifestations of love, such as kindness, patience, selflessness, understanding, and
forgiveness. In all our associations, these and other such attributes will help make evident the love in our hearts.
Usually
our love will be shown in our day-to-day interactions one with another.
All important will be our ability to recognize someone’s need and then
to respond. I have always cherished the sentiment expressed in the short
poem:
I have wept in the night
For the shortness of sight
That to somebody’s need made me blind;
But I never have yet
Felt a tinge of regret
For being a little too kind...
Every day of our lives we are given opportunities to show love and
kindness to those around us. Said President Spencer W. Kimball: “We must
remember that those mortals we meet in parking lots, offices,
elevators, and elsewhere are that portion of mankind God has given us to
love and to serve. It will do us little good to speak of the general
brotherhood of mankind if we cannot regard those who are all around us
as our brothers and sisters.”...Brothers and sisters, some of our greatest opportunities to demonstrate
our love will be within the walls of our own homes. Love should be the
very heart of family life, and yet sometimes it is not. There can be too
much impatience, too much arguing, too many fights, too many tears.
Lamented President Gordon B. Hinckley: “Why is it that the [ones] we
love [most] become so frequently the targets of our harsh words? Why is
it that [we] sometimes speak as if with daggers that cut to the quick?”
The answers to these questions may be different for each of us, and yet
the bottom line is that the reasons do not matter. If we would keep the
commandment to love one another, we must treat each other with kindness
and respect...
I
would hope that we would strive always to be considerate and to be
sensitive to the thoughts and feelings and circumstances of those around
us. Let us not demean or belittle. Rather, let us be compassionate and
encouraging. We must be careful that we do not destroy another person’s
confidence through careless words or actions. Forgiveness
should go hand in hand with love. In our families, as well as with our
friends, there can be hurt feelings and disagreements. Again, it doesn’t
really matter how small the issue was. It cannot and should not be left
to canker, to fester, and ultimately to destroy. Blame keeps wounds
open. Only forgiveness heals...
Love
is expressed in many recognizable ways: a smile, a wave, a kind
comment, a compliment. Other expressions may be more subtle, such as
showing interest in another’s activities, teaching a principle with
kindness and patience, visiting one who is ill or homebound. These words
and actions and many others can communicate love.
Dale
Carnegie, a well-known American author and lecturer, believed that each
person has within himself or herself the “power to increase the sum
total of [the] world’s happiness … by giving a few words of sincere
appreciation to someone who is lonely or discouraged.” Said he, “Perhaps
you will forget tomorrow the kind words you say today, but the
recipient may cherish them over a lifetime.”
12
May
we begin now, this very day, to express love to all of God’s children,
whether they be our family members, our friends, mere acquaintances, or
total strangers. As we arise each morning, let us determine to respond
with love and kindness to whatever might come our way.
Beyond
comprehension, my brothers and sisters, is the love of God for us.
Because of this love, He sent His Son, who loved us enough to give His
life for us, that we might have eternal life. As we come to understand
this incomparable gift, our hearts will be filled with love for our
Eternal Father, for our Savior, and for all mankind. That such may be so
is my earnest prayer in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen."
"When the Lord requires that we forgive all men, that includes forgiving
ourselves. Sometimes, of all the people in the world, the one who is the
hardest to forgive—as well as perhaps the one who is most in need of
our forgiveness—is the person looking back at us in the mirror.
This
topic of judging others could actually be taught in a two-word sermon.
When it comes to hating, gossiping, ignoring, ridiculing, holding
grudges, or wanting to cause harm, please apply the following:
Stop it!
It’s
that simple. We simply have to stop judging others and replace
judgmental thoughts and feelings with a heart full of love for God and
His children. God is our Father. We are His children. We are all
brothers and sisters. I don’t know exactly how to articulate this point
of not judging others with sufficient eloquence, passion, and
persuasion to make it stick. I can quote scripture, I can try to expound
doctrine, and I will even quote a bumper sticker I recently saw. It was
attached to the back of a car whose driver appeared to be a little
rough around the edges, but the words on the sticker taught an
insightful lesson. It read, “Don’t judge me because I sin differently
than you.”
We
must recognize that we are all imperfect—that we are beggars before
God. Haven’t we all, at one time or another, meekly approached the mercy
seat and pleaded for grace? Haven’t we wished with all the energy of
our souls for mercy—to be forgiven for the mistakes we have made and the
sins we have committed?
Because
we all depend on the mercy of God, how can we deny to others any
measure of the grace we so desperately desire for ourselves? My beloved
brothers and sisters, should we not forgive as we wish to be forgiven?...
Forgiving
ourselves and others is not easy. In fact, for most of us it requires a
major change in our attitude and way of thinking—even a change of
heart. But there is good news. This “mighty change” of heart is exactly what the gospel of Jesus Christ is designed to bring into our lives.
How is it done? Through the love of God.
When
our hearts are filled with the love of God, something good and pure
happens to us. We “keep his commandments: and his commandments are not
grievous. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world.”
The
more we allow the love of God to govern our minds and emotions—the more
we allow our love for our Heavenly Father to swell within our
hearts—the easier it is to love others with the pure love of Christ. As
we open our hearts to the glowing dawn of the love of God, the darkness
and cold of animosity and envy will eventually fade.
As
always, Christ is our exemplar. In His teachings as in His life, He
showed us the way. He forgave the wicked, the vulgar, and those who
sought to hurt and to do Him harm.
Jesus said it is easy to love those who love us; even the wicked can do that.
But Jesus Christ taught a higher law. His words echo through the
centuries and are meant for us today. They are meant for all who desire
to be His disciples. They are meant for you and me: “Love your enemies,
bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for
them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.”
When
our hearts are filled with the love of God, we become “kind one to
another, tenderhearted, forgiving [each other], even as God for Christ’s
sake [forgave us].”
The
pure love of Christ can remove the scales of resentment and wrath from
our eyes, allowing us to see others the way our Heavenly Father sees us:
as flawed and imperfect mortals who have potential and worth far beyond
our capacity to imagine. Because God loves us so much, we too must love
and forgive each other...
Lay
your burden at the Savior’s feet. Let go of judgment. Allow Christ’s
Atonement to change and heal your heart. Love one another. Forgive one
another.
The merciful will obtain mercy."
The Savior taught through example. He taught His disciples
to pray by praying with them. He taught them how to teach His gospel by
the way He taught it. He taught them to love and serve by the way He
loved and served them.
I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
There is more to come soon on being more Christlike in all of our actions, words, and thoughts towards others!
