“Jesus looked at him and loved him. ‘One thing you lack,’ he said. ‘Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.” Mark 10:21

The phrase “Jesus looked at him and loved him”, has always drawn my focus. This was one of the great traits Jesus had as he came face to face with humans. He saw them as the objects of God’s great love. He related to humanity in terms of their being of great worth in God’s sight. He related to humanity in terms of love with no desire to exploit or to profit from His relationship with them. Jesus’ habit of relating to people with love is a habit that His followers need to develop.

1. Jesus loved the Father God supremely
Jesus said that we must love the Father God supremely. (Matt 22:37)

2. Jesus said that we must love our neighbors as ourselves (Matt 22:39)
Many people have difficulty loving their neighbors because they do not genuinely love themselves. Genuine love has been defined as “a basic attitude of concern for the satisfaction, security, and development of the one loved.” Jesus related to both his friends and enemies with just such an attitude.

3. Followers of Christ are now capable of relating to others in terms of love
People can be ugly and repulsive, difficult to love. Yet, Jesus commands us to relate to them with love. He isn’t talking about an emotional response based on the attractiveness of those around us. Because God first loved us, it is possible for us to love others. (1 John 4:19) Because of God’s great love for others, it is possible for us to develop Jesus’ habit of always relating to even the most unlovely with an attitude of genuine Christ-like love.

The love of Christ is unmerited, sacrificial, appropriate, forgiving and affirming. This is the kind of love that will identify us as true followers of Christ and will bless the world.