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On Love

 

1 John 4 : 7 
"Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God."

1 John 3:18 
"My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth."   

The subject of love has been widely taught, discussed, talked about, spoken of and even expressed both in the positive and negative distorted extremes. However quite a few number have actually paused a bit to understand what LOVE really is, it's content, and how it is really practiced. 

The opening scripture of 1 John 3:18 points out that love (just like compassion and mercy,) is in the action, not in words or intents; and 1 Corinthians 13 explains in details the contents of love : it never gives up, cares more for others than for self. Love is not jealous, it does not brag, doesn’t force itself on others, isn’t always “me first,” and it cannot be made angry easily. Love does not remember wrongs done against it. It is never glad about injustice, but it is always happy with the truth. Love never gives up on people. Trusts God always, always looks for the best, never loses hope, and never quits. All the special gifts and powers from God will someday come to an end, but love goes on forever. 

So, in essence, the key manifestation of love is being sacrificial to others in your actions. The purest form of love is sacrifice: yielding or giving up your place, stuffs, and things for others; in the same way God gave his ONLY son to die, so that you could live through him (1 john 3:9). Love is considerate of the other person, compassionate, respectful, deliberately committed and empathetic. It is simplifying the task for the sake of the other person; making things intentionally easy for people. It does not castigate, judge or accuse. it is not harsh, it is comely, it builds up and does not tear down people's spirits. When you walk in love, you give out empathy and compassion to a world that is desperately in need of it. 

This kind of love, which is the true kind, is not usually common in the world we live in; and practicing it could make you appear weak, foolish and defeated like a beaten child, but in actual sense, you are winning and you are strong. The bible says it's okay and in place for you to feel that way because God chooses the foolish things of the world to confound the wise, and the weak things to confound the things that are mighty. (1 cor 1: 27). So, whenever you feel that you are loosing out because of your acts of love, just know that God is building up your inner strength and making you stronger, and it will manifest in due time. If God loves you sacrificially, you should love another in the same capacity. When you do so, he comes to tabernacle in you; his Spirit dwells in you, makes your heart his abode and never leaves. So, love retains God's Spirit in you. (1 John :15 &16)

And this is how you will know you have perfected this love: -boldness. (1 John 4: 17). When you have attained this form of love, you have boldness in Christ in the face of fear or anything that intimidates, because perfect love casts out fear and there is no fear in love (v.18). Also, when you know you have love when you face judgement and are not afraid, you're confident because your heart is pure and void of any offense. 

On the other hand, anyone who fears is not made perfect in love. and the truth is, when one doesn't walk in love or is not perfected in love, he walks in hates (there is no go-between); and when he walks in hate, he becomes a liar. This makes the person the son of the devil because he is the father of lies. Now, that's a dangerous place to be, and that, without even knowing! 1 John 4: 20 explains that when you claim to love God but hate (disrespectful, inconsiderate, selfish towards) your 'brother', you are lying. So, for your love to be complete, you have to love your brother even as you love God, as God commanded. 

Love in general, and loving your 'brother' in particular, is a commandment not a choice. So, you love other people regardless of whether they love you back or not, because love is actually when you extend it to people, not when they extend it to you. Therefore, don't be afraid to make the first move. Love gives boldness which comes in time, the more you love. With this renewed understanding, may God's love that is already shed abroad in your heart be manifested in your actions as you give yourself to practicing it. Amen.

God bless you!

Comments

  1. OnefoldFebruary 16, 2021 at 9:16 AM

    Great one.
    God bless you ma'am

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ormah's SpaceFebruary 17, 2021 at 9:54 AM


      Thank you and God bless you too Sir.
      Kindly share with your circles.

      Delete
  2. Ormah's SpaceFebruary 17, 2021 at 9:53 AM

    Thank you and God bless you too Sir.
    Kindly share with your circles.

    ReplyDelete

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