“And now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of them all is love’ (1Corinthians 13:13 KJV).
Just as the scripture says in Proverb 4:7 that, “wisdom is the principal thing,” we can also say of the above scripture that love is a principal thing.
Love is important, and everyone responds to it. It is not a mere feeling. It’s a verb, an action. It connotes giving. God demonstrated this when He sent His beloved son, Jesus Christ, to die for our sin.(more…)
A person who claims to love God must express it by loving his Son Jesus Christ. The person must also love his or her neighbors. Here are God’s words,
“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’”(Luke 10:27 NIV).
“Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments” (1 John 5:1-2 NKJV).
The task to love God and our fellow human beings may sound easy but it can be sometimes intensive. It can be tough to truly love the hostile people. Also, it can be challenging to love God wholeheartedly during a difficult situation. However, despite the challenges, believers still have the privilege of depending on empowerment of the Holy Spirit to fully meet the standard of God – “Love God and love your neighbors.”
To overcome the challenge of struggling to fully love God and truly love our neighbors, we must rely on the power of the Holy Spirit.
Christian: Have Confidence In Holy Spirit!
Holy Spirit can help us overcome our limitations and adequately meet the standard of God. To achieve this, we must express our dependence on God. That is, we must pray and express our frustrations and fears to God. We must tell him how we feel, and how powerless we are in a situation. More importantly, we must ask God to send his Holy Spirit to possess us, empower us, and guide us to behave appropriately according to his commandments.
A believer who operates in the realm of the Holy Spirit through prayers and Bible study will receive God’s empowerment to prosper. The person will regain the strength to behave in a manner that glorifies God.
No doubt that Satan will tempt a Christian to act in the flesh and be less loving in a hostile environment, but the fellow can depend on the power of the Holy Spirit to adequately meet the standard of God.
Holy Spirit gives us the power to fully love God and our neighbors. The Bible states, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26).
Every Christian needs the supernatural power of God (Holy Spirit) to overcome his or her limitations. The divine Spirit of God will energize us to live above sin if we can allow him to lead us! He (Holy Spirit) will empower us to love God as well as loving our fellow human beings – Even under a poisoned atmosphere! The more we rely on the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, the more our strength will increase to fully conform to the standard of God.
Submit yourself to God. Read his word (The Bible); pray, and rely on the power of the Holy Spirit to fully conform to his standard.
Please Pray for Strength to Love God and Faithfully Serve Him!
Dear God, please baptize me with the Holy Spirit to exercise genuine love for you and other people. Empower me to live an acceptable life before you so that I can qualify for your benefits on earth and in heaven. For in the name of Jesus Christ I make my requests. Amen! Click here to subscribe and read the new post from the author.
Family matters to God, therefore Christians are called to be responsible for our family.
All believers must represent God in our various homes.
Our love expression will benefit everyone – Including God!
Bible challenged Christians to be responsible for our homes as stated,
“Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, maybe won by the conduct of their wives, when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear.
Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel—rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God…
Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered. Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous” (1 Peter 3:1-8).
Bible harshly rebukes any believer who is not responsible for his home. He is called ”An Infidel! (1 Timothy 5:8)
Show Love to Your Family As You Claim to Love God
Charity begins at home. Therefore, anyone who claims to love God must first start to express it at home.
Our family members share common blood. They are much closer to us in this world than anyone else; therefore, we must choose to love them dearly.
No argument that every Christian is directly responsible for the welfare of his home!
Our family members deserve our first-class attention.
Christians Must Not Be Sentimental with Love
There is no exception to the rule of true love.
Christians are not to only specialize in loving our relatives, but we must also love other people as well.
No substitute for genuine love. Therefore, each Christian must love God and also love our neighbors.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:30-31)
Christians must care for each other. We must be on the lookout and be protective of our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Iron sharpeneth iron. Believers must care and forgive each other. We must move on to celebrate the true love of Jesus Christ despite our minor differences.
So watch yourselves. “If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them. Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.” (Luke 17:3-4)
Believers must pray and care for one another.
Christians must have a common love to benefit ourselves and also promote God’s kingdom.
Back to Home Love!
Christians must not forget that God requires us to promote genuine love in our homes.
We must genuinely express sincere love towards our family members.
A husband must love his wife; the wife must love her husband.
True love reigns! Christianity is rooted in God’s love, and every Christian must demonstrate it sincerely to satisfy our Maker.
Paul explained the necessity of God’s love to Christians as quoted,
“If I gave everything I have to poor people, and if I were burned alive for preaching the Gospel but didn’t love others, it would be of no value whatever.
Love is very patient and kind, never jealous or envious, never boastful or proud” (1 Corinthians 13:3-4 TLB).
Christians Must Allow True Love To Reign
True and thorough love of God (Genuine love) must be paramount among Christians. We must love other people dearly.
Each believer must understand that nothing is more significant to God than an expression of genuine love towards him, and towards other people.
Jesus Christ declares, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second most important commandment is this: ‘Love your neighbor as you love yourself.’
There is no other commandment more important than these two.” (Mark 12:30-31 GNT)
All Christians must adopt the principle that Jesus Christ came here on earth to establish.
Christ solely came to earth for the sake of love. The Bible states,
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16 NKJV)
Christ is the author of genuine love that all people must celebrate.
He came to earth for the sake of love. He preached love; he was persecuted for the sake of love.
Christ died for the sake of love, and he resurrected for his love to save humanity.
Jesus Christ remains selfless and loving to all people. Through his love, believers will inherit the kingdom of God.
Followers of Jesus Christ (Christians) are called to operate in love. We must care for one another – without an iota of selfishness so that God can be glorified in all ramifications.
Bible promotes the unity of brethren as quoted, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching (Hebrews 10:25 NJKV)”
Believers’ love will lead to promotion of gospel; it will motivate unbelievers to come closer and find a reason to serve God.
Paul chastised Corinthians brethren,
“Therefore when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper. For in eating, each one takes his own supper ahead of others; and one is hungry and another is drunk” (1 Corinthians 11:20-21).
Love Affirmation and Its Impact to Christianity
Love is the true symbol of Christianity, and all Christians must practice it to glorify God.
Believers’ exercise of true love will go a long way to aid gospel expansion.
Love will help Christians stay together and remain strong. It is declared in the Bible,
“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life forevermore (Psalm 133 KJV).”
As Christ’s followers, believers must have common voice to uphold the biblical principles in our corrupt society.
Anti gospel folks cannot prevail in their ungodly campaigns against gospel if believers are steadfastly united!
The unity of brethren will force our opponents to re-evaluate their negative intents and change the course of action.
All Christians must understand that nothing significant can be achieved until we stay together and operate as a community.
Our collective efforts as unified children of God will yield great results that will promote God’s name and put devil to shame!
Prayer of Unity in the body of Christ
Dear God, please bring the body of Christ together and let us act in unity. Grant each Christian a loving heart to accommodate other brethren.
Help each Christian and denomination to shun segregation and obey your call for true love.
Enable the fold of Christ to raise the banner of love that will uphold your righteousness as a community of believers.
Please help brethren and churches to overcome all our challenges, so that we can have the strength needed to keep propagating your gospel throughout the world.
Please do these things and many more. For in the name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen
