January 14th, 2022
by Gerald Hawk
by Gerald Hawk
What does the love of God in Christ look like? How can we provide an environment that is truly representative of Christ and His love for us? It would most certainly involve, at least, the following key components . . .
For starters, humility must characterize our lives for love to function to its fullest capacity. Hatred is often viewed as the opposite of love, but in reality the opposite of love is selfishness. Our Lord was selfless in His pursuit of providing for our salvation from sin. He gave up His own comfort and ease, while at the same time having a willingness to suffer great loss so that we could have the greatest gain (2 Corinthians 8:9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich). Love looks out for the needs of others without regard for the personal cost involved to oneself (Philippians 2:2–4 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others).
Next, you must factor in purity to enable love to reach its fullest extent. We are not just speaking of a purity of life, but a purity of heart. A God-shaped love has a genuineness in its motivation. True love never takes advantage of anyone or takes something away. It is good and gracious with a fullness of mercy. It is at its core giving and forgiving. This flow of unhypocritical love comes from the deep, inexhaustible well-spring of God’s love for us of which we have received. Consider Peter’s words in 1 Peter 1:22, where he says, "Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently”.
Then, as is stated at the conclusion of the last verse, we must persevere for love to become seen in its full operation. That “fervent love” is encouraged also by Peter in chapter 4, verse 8. There is not only breadth of love but a depth enjoined upon us. This kind of love will promote unity in the relationships of believers.
Colossians 3:14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
~ Love will dictate our level of forgiveness, patience and mercy among the brethren ~
For starters, humility must characterize our lives for love to function to its fullest capacity. Hatred is often viewed as the opposite of love, but in reality the opposite of love is selfishness. Our Lord was selfless in His pursuit of providing for our salvation from sin. He gave up His own comfort and ease, while at the same time having a willingness to suffer great loss so that we could have the greatest gain (2 Corinthians 8:9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich). Love looks out for the needs of others without regard for the personal cost involved to oneself (Philippians 2:2–4 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others).
Next, you must factor in purity to enable love to reach its fullest extent. We are not just speaking of a purity of life, but a purity of heart. A God-shaped love has a genuineness in its motivation. True love never takes advantage of anyone or takes something away. It is good and gracious with a fullness of mercy. It is at its core giving and forgiving. This flow of unhypocritical love comes from the deep, inexhaustible well-spring of God’s love for us of which we have received. Consider Peter’s words in 1 Peter 1:22, where he says, "Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently”.
Then, as is stated at the conclusion of the last verse, we must persevere for love to become seen in its full operation. That “fervent love” is encouraged also by Peter in chapter 4, verse 8. There is not only breadth of love but a depth enjoined upon us. This kind of love will promote unity in the relationships of believers.
Colossians 3:14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
~ Love will dictate our level of forgiveness, patience and mercy among the brethren ~
Recent
Archive
2024
April
August
October
November
December
2023
June
2022
October
Categories
Tags
Angels
Associations
Authority
Baptism
Baptist Distinctives
Bible Memory
Bible Reading
Bible
Blessings
Boldness
Burdens
Calling
Cares
Carols
Children
Choices
Christianity
Christmas
Christ
Church Government
Church Practice
Church
Citizens
Comfort
Commitment
Committment
Communion
Companions
Congregational
Contentment
Corporate Prayer
Country
Creation
Creator
Cross
Crowns
Dating
Deacons
Decisions
Dedication
Deity
Devil
Devotions
Devotion
Discipleship
Discretion
Doctrine
Eternal Life
Eternal Punishment
Eternal Security
Ethics
Evangelism
Examples
Example
Eyes
Faithfulness
Faith
Fellowship
First Advent
Fleshly
Forgiveness
Friends
Friend
Future
God-man
God's Existence
God's Word
God\'s Word
Godhead
Godliness
God
Good Word
Gospel
Grace
Grief
Growth
Hardship
Heart
Heaven
Hell
Help
Holiness
Home
Hope
Independent
Individual Soul Liberty
Interpretation
Jesus
Joy
Judgment
King
Last things
Leadership
Local Church
Lord's Supper
Lord's Table
Loss
Love
Man
Marriage
Membership
Members
Memorization
Messiah
Modesty
Music
Nations
One Another
Parents
Pastoral Leadership
Peace
Persecution
Plans
Praise
Prayer Meeting
Prayer
Priesthood
Priorities
Priority
Promises
Prophecy
Propriety
Purity
Quiet Time
Rapture
Redemption
Rejoice
Relationships
Relief
Resurrection
Reverence
Rewards
Sacrifices
Sacrifice
Salvation
Sanctification
Santification
Satan
Savior
Scriptures
Scripture
Separation
Service
Singing
Sin
Society
Song
Sovereignty
Speech
Spiritual Growth
Spiritual Warfare
Strength
Study
Suffering
Surrender
Temptation
Thankfulness
Thanksgiving
Thanks
The Faith
Theology
Trends
Trials
Tribulations
Trouble
Trust
Truth
United
Unity
Violence
Waiting
Wife
Will of God
Witness
Woman
Word of God
World
Worship
gentleness
mercy
worldliness
No Comments