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In a world where love is such a need just as much as oxygen is to breathe, but yet we struggle to even define what it means. Not knowing how to define it will often dictate how we show it. I am glad that God IS, He knows and He defines love so beautifully in His Word. He shows us that He so loved us in John 3:16, and then He tells us how to love Him in Matthew 22:37-39 that the greatest commandment is to love the Lord God with all of your heart, soul and mind. It goes on to say how we are to love our neighbors (those who are close and nearby) as OURSELVES!
Wait....so I love God..."check"....but then I have to love my neighbors as myself too?
Well how much of myself am I willing to love my neighbor?
Do I love myself well enough to love my neighbor?
But in order for me to love myself and my neighbor, I need to love God with all of who I am, then it recycles through the union of myself and my connections.
God never leaves us without instructions and sometimes a checklist of how to do what He asks in a practical way. Let's break down 1 Corinthians 13:
If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing.
If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.
These three points alone are a major factor that often defines status quo, power, and commended service that renders admiration and applauds in some instances. However, God says that as wonderful as these things are and as dutiful in service you may be, without LOVE, all of it means absolutely NOTHING!!! In other words, we waste our energy, time and breath if we do not properly love.
You mean to tell me that I can speak with other languages and have spiritual language; I can prophecy and have knowledge and faith; I can even help the less fortunate and work myself to the bone. I can do all of these things without loving others? He says yes. BUT without the element of love in your heart, tone, attitude, facial expressions, and body language, all of those things are worthless!!!
Be careful of getting caught up in being dutiful, admired and applauded that you lack the love of God that makes the real difference in the lives of people.
Have you checked your love meter lately? What areas of love are you struggling with?
Have you been too busy to love on God with all of yourself? Do you love yourself? Are you struggling to love someone in your life?
Lord, I thank you for loving me. Thank you for showing me what love is and how love can be misguided through dutiful acts. Help me to have love for everyone in everything that I do, daily. Please help me to love myself in order to love my neighbor properly. Forgive me in areas where I've fallen short and restore me through your unfailing love for me. In Jesus Name. Amen
Next Blog: Love Series - Love is patient and kind
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