BOUND BY THE CORDS OF GOD’S LOVE!
As workers in God’s kingdom we represent Him personally. All we do and say reflects how far along we are on God’s scale of perfect love. We must learn to have love as our motivator in all our words, actions, and thoughts. When we have love fixed in our hearts, every word, and action will have to cross the threshold of our “love.” The greatest of God’s gifts is love. “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8). Perfect “love” can solve the world’s problems and it is love that will fix ours.
Unforgiveness, resentment, recriminations, anger, grudges, prejudice, etc., are done away with through love. Love covers a multitude of sins! Perfect love will someday rule the world through Jesus Christ, God’s son. How can we be in God’s image if we have no love? Think of how “love” applied to everything in our lives will affect how we feel, know, see, and touch. When love rules, we know and understand how God perfects us, because love changes us inside-out.
If we want to change the atmosphere in our lives and homes, we must ask God to give each of us a heart filled with love. Love can be divinely given when it is lacking in us. We can overcome evil with the goodness of love. Love will keep us from yielding to anger, hate, resentment, prejudice, and other evil deeds. When anger, hate, etc., flare up in our souls, it is a signal that we need to clean our inner house (by confession, repentance, and change of our fleshly nature) to a nature pleasing to God. The bible speaks of “practicing righteousness.” “If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him” (1 John 2:29). It is because of our love for God that we practice righteousness.
How great is our love for God? Is our love for anyone greater than our love for God? It is easy to put other loves before Him, but it is not safe or wise. Sometimes we have to take inventory of our “loves” to see who is most important in life. There is no greater love than someone who would willingly die for one who is totally unworthy. Christ gave His life when we were yet sinners! God commands that we have no other Gods before Him, (Exodus 20:3). There was a time when I put my husband before God, and God lovingly showed me my sin. I took care of my sin immediately.
When we love we are grateful and filled with thanksgiving. The Lord loads us with His blessings and benefits. Do we say “thank you” to Him every time we are blessed as we would anyone else who gave us a present? The Lord spoke to me one day and this is what He said: “You are not thankful enough and judgmental too much!” What an indictment against me! I began to examine myself. I found that on the large blessings of God I was filled with praise and thanksgiving, but sometimes in the everyday blessings, I took Him for granted. We cannot praise or thank God enough for all that He does for us! I want to be filled continually with His praise. I want my praise to arise as sweet incense or perfume before Him. I want to prepare to enjoy the peace and love of heaven down here. The earth will be a better place – where love and praise for God exists.
“Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy — meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you” (Philippians 4:4-9).
My prayer: Dearest Lord, I rejoice in Your love and I want to be overflowing with Your love. I want to make a difference in this world for Your sake and glory. May Your spirit of love permeate my life and prepare me to finish Your work. Without love I will be a sounding brass or a clanging cymbal! Bring restoration and newness of life to me and my family. May we enter into Your abundant life and be overcomers in every besetting sin. May we offer up to You our love and righteousness to glorify Your holy name before the world. Amen.
