For the Christian, a lot of our time is spent seeking ways to affirm our love to those we claim to love. I think this is a good thing in most cases. God is love. In I John 4:16, this truth is stated that God is love and those who dwell in Him are to be filled with love. We are to love everyone. If all people loved the way we are supposed to love it would stop all wars, crimes, jealousies, and wrongful passions.
I John 4:16 “And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.”
If we are to love as God loves what would that look like?
First, love would seek out ways to be loving. God demonstrated that to us by giving His Son to make a way for us to be forgiven. We were loved and sought out by God before we ever knew that we needed Him. What opportunities are you creating to show others that you love them? Have you tried to show a new neighbor God’s love by helping them? Maybe, you could make dinner on their first night as your neighbor, give a gift card for a meal, or offer a friendly invitation to your home. God didn’t just tell us He loved us He demonstrated He loves us. Therefore, we are to demonstrate our love to others.
Romans 5:8 “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
Second, God loves everyone. John 3:16 tells us “For God so loved the world.“ No one is excluded from His love. If you are a Christian God’s love will live in your heart. You will not only love those who love you, but you will also love your enemies. In Matthew 4:44, Jesus tells us to love our enemies, to do good to those who hate us, and to pray for those who despitefully use us and persecute us. That is contrary to the natural man, but when God’s love is supreme in our lives, we can do it. I have heard the testimony of many who were persecuted and were able to influence their captors for Christ because they showed God’s love toward them. Rest assured, when God commands us to do something He will empower us to do it if we will yield to Him.
Matthew 5:44 “But I say unto you, 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;”
Along with loving our enemies, we are taught to not show partiality to others because of the wealth they have or their status in the community. We are to treat everyone with the same respect. We are given this command in Acts 10:34-35 and James 2:1-4. Realizing that we are nothing on our own, that it is only by God’s grace we are who we are, will help us to keep this in perspective. Look around, is there someone that others shun, maybe because they are dirty, uneducated, or poor? Reach out, God allows you to see this person because He is giving you an opportunity to show His love.
Acts 10:34-35 “Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth, I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation, he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.”
James 2:1-4 My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?
God’s love doesn’t allow things to get in the way of His expressing it to us. Satan encourages us to get so busy we have tunnel vision. We see things that are important to us, and things we feel we must do, yet in the big picture of life, they are not important at all. We hurry to activities, we push forward and ignore others to get ahead in our jobs, we seek to “climb the ladder” in every area of our lives, except the spiritual ladder that draws us closer to God. We have convinced ourselves that we are ok with God because we have been saved and we attend church. The more we live this way the less we love. We miss grand opportunities to love because we choose our selfishness above loving others. We sacrifice the best for the ok. We sacrifice God’s blessings for what we think we can earn ourselves. When God convicts our hearts about the matter of loving others and showing it, we make excuses and put off allowing it to change our hearts. Eventually, we have disobeyed the Holy Spirit so long that we are completely deceived. Now, we can live our lives like we want to, and it doesn’t bother us at all.
If we are to stand before God one day and hear Him say “well done,” we must live in obedience to His word. We are commanded to love everyone at all times. We are to look for opportunities to love and we are to take advantage of every opportunity God brings our way.
I John 3:18 “My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.”
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