“Unconditional love…that gives all and asks nothing in return, the kind of love we fail in daily, and seek to understand.” Glenna Oldham
You know another verse that’s always puzzled me is 1 Jn 4:18 “Perfect love casts out fear…” and something I heard Kenneth Copeland speak on gave me some light on this! Did you know that the minute we step “out of love” we step into fear? And where there is fear faith cannot operate and it’s impossible to receive anything from God without faith (nothing can work as the only medium faith will work in is love). It’s rather like a fish in a bowl of water the more you drain the water out the more restricted the fish becomes! That’s why Jesus commands us to forgive and to forgive quickly (Matt. 6:15, Mark 11:25) because the second you step “out of love” you are actually in a very dangerous and precarious position – open to all sorts of attack and torment! So any emotion that puts us into strife, anger, bitterness, resentment, fear, anxiety, stress, selfishness...causes us to walk out of love and into fear making us travel a very rocky road! So when there is anything lacking in my life or just not working, I ask myself this - maybe it’s not my faith that’s lacking but my love? So hey the solution is to stay “IN LOVE” and you’ll walk in God’s presence as HE IS LOVE! And love’s greatest expression is giving – giving of yourself, your time, talents, treasure and tongue!! S.J.
Oh this is what Joyce has to say… "Is love the main theme of your life? If not, you need to make a change. Often we spend time seeking things that we think are important! Do not major in what Jesus considers to be minor. In other words, don’t spend your time and effort on things that have no lasting value and don’t add to the kingdom of God. The Bible says love is seen in our behavior toward one another. It is by our love that the world will know we are Jesus’ disciples John 13:35.
Love can be described quite eloquently, but I believe the real power of love is seen in how we treat one another. Are we patient, kind, humble, ready to believe the best at all times, not easily provoked or offended and ready to lay aside our rights for other people? Are we ready to quickly and frequently forgive, and to never keep records of wrongs that we have suffered? Will we endure everything without weakening and bear with the failings of the weak? The willingness to do these things is what love is all about. Love is an effort and it always costs us something. Most people today are looking for the easy road, but that is one that leads to destruction. I encourage you to take the narrow road – the one which people who are willing to treat others as they want to be treated travel.” Joyce Meyer
I have been rather hesitant to post this as I have noticed when I speak God’s words – His word is more powerful than a two edged sword Heb. 4:12 and not my own words which are trivial and insignificant and meaningless, He will always test that word in my own life e.g. if I tell someone to do something based on God’s word, the very next day I will be tested in the exact same thing to see if I too will obey His word – will I do what I say? So by writing this I will have to make sure that I also walk in it! It’s not the easy road as Joyce said but it’s the best road one that leads to life and life more abundantly John 10:10.
Something a pastor said, has stuck with me for many years, and is very helpful! He said, “Always walk in the opposite spirit.” This means, when someone treats you badly, you don’t retaliate with the same actions, but you “walk in the opposite spirit” and treat them with love and kindness instead! When you do this, you are 1/ treating others the way you would like to be treated (Matt. 7:12), remember you will reap what you sow. 2/ You will be abiding in the vine (John 15). When you walk in love you are abiding in the vine and staying “in Christ.” The minute you choose to walk “out of love,” you come out of alignment and out of the vine! 3/ You are showing others, by example (not just words), the right way to do things! You become the “living sacrifice” (Rom 12:1), because to do this means you will have to sacrifice your own desires and crucify your flesh!
I would be amiss if I didn't add this last, incredible story - one that I witnessed with my own eyes!
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