The entire foundation of our existence with God is rooted in love. Because He loved us and desired to share life with us, He created us and then sent His son to die for us so that we could live totally free and complete in Him. How important is His Love? Well, that’s hard to simplify into words. His love encompasses a power so grand and majestic that it erases all of our sins, delivers us from all of our shortcomings, heals us from all pain and sickness and infiltrates every fiber of our being with grace and strength.
We, as His children, the unbelievably fortunate recipients of His love, who are created in His image and called to live a life like Him, then also must be powerful givers of love. In I Corinthians 13:3, it says, “If I give away all I have, and I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.” Even the most extreme form of sacrifice pales in comparison to the power and importance of living a life of love. So, I ask you today, are you full of love? Are you living a life of love? Do the people you encounter, people in your life, experience and receive love from you?
I am pretty confident I can say that we can all continue to grow in love and become better distributors and demonstrators of love. How do we do this? One of things I love about God’s Word is that He always spells out direction for us when He asks us to do and be something. If you go on reading in I Corinthians 13:4-8, it says, “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.”
So, how do I grow in my ability to love?
- I choose to be patient.
- I choose to be kind.
- I choose to not be jealous or envious of others and what they have or accomplish.
- I do not boast or brag.
- I am not arrogant. I am always willing to learn and admit others may know more.
- I choose to be courteous and not rude.
- I listen to others, pay attention to their needs and desires and don’t always insist on doing things my way.
- I choose to be happy, respectful and not irritable or easily annoyed.
- I decide to let things go and not hold grudges. I choose to not become resentful or hold onto the past.
- I choose to stay away from sin. I do not like it, and I do not celebrate wrongdoing. I celebrate righteous and truth.
- I can bear all things because I am a victor in Christ Jesus, so no matter the current situation, I will overcome. (I Corinthians 15:57, Deuteronomy 20:4, John 16:33)
- I can always believe because my faith is rooted in the 100% unshakeable and undoubtable promises of God’s Word. (Isaiah 55:11; Hebrews 4:12, Acts 19:20, I john 5:4)
- I can always hope because God’s mercies are new every morning, and He only wants the best for me and promises me good. (Lamentations 3:22-23, James 1:17)
- I can endure all things, because I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13)
- I can love endlessly, because God’s love for me never, ever ceases. It cannot stop! And, I was created to love just like Him! (Lamentations 3:22)
I challenge you to embrace these attributes. Work to live this way. Check your heart, your mind, your action and your responses and make sure they are based in love. Remember, without love, we are nothing! Each one of us has received the beautiful gift of God’s love; so, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!
Xoxo,
Shannon
