EPISODE 26 – THE PRACTICE OF LOVE 1
adminBy Benjamin Nana Amissah Ansah
MACHAIRA
(Pronounced makh’-ahee-rah)
Daily revelatory thoughts to sharpen you and to
help you grow in deep spiritual understanding and
knowledge.
Scriptures for your daily meditation.
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prayers.
Friday 17th February, 2023
THE PRACTICE OF LOVE 1
“Beloved, let us [unselfishly] love and seek the best for one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves [others] is born of God and knows God [through personal experience]” 1 John 4:7 (Amplified Bible)
Love is to be practiced. You don’t love only by utterance, you love by action.
Demonstrating love towards one another establishes our oneness.
Division is the fruit of selfishness.
Wherever there is oneness there is love.
To walk in love is according to the supply of God’s love in us.
Even our Lord Jesus demonstrated His love according as He is loved by the Father.
“As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love” John 15:9 (KJV).
You continue or remain in His love by enjoying His love in a personal way and expressing that love to others.
Until you understand how love works, you cannot practice this love. We work out God’s love exactly as He has worked His love into us.
In 1 Corinthians 16, we see about fifteen (15) workings of God’s 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 (NKJV)
Paul the apostle, wasn’t trying to give definitions of love in these verses; he was laying bare the application of love. He was not speaking of romantic or sentimental relationship. These things Paul listed are more radical and not mere squishy feelings. Love is how the saints live out our empowered relationship with Jesus, through the Holy Spirit.
The love we speak of here, is the Greek word “agape”. It is different from “Eros” romantic or intimate love. It is deeper than the romantic love partners professes to each other. Neither is it, “Phileo” the strong love towards a relative.
Agape is the highest dimension of the love of God demonstrated through Christ.
When you study 1 Corinthians 13, it must be from chapter 12; these points out the focus of the gifts of the Spirit. Gifts of the Spirit are to be exercised with love.
He listed the things which love does and things love doesn’t do. These are not emotional depictions of love. Beloved, without the life of Christ in you, 1 Corinthians 13 is meaningless and inapplicable.
1. Love suffers long
This is not suggesting that you are in endless trouble. This is basically a matter of patience. To say love is patient, means love is persistent and purposeful. Patience is the foundational expression of love. It endures without quitting no matter the frustration.
This is essentially rooted in the eternal patience of Christ’s love, which He demonstrated towards us.
2. Love is kind
This is to image the kindness of the love of Christ, towards others.
This is to act benevolently or to show oneself useful or helpful to others. To be kind is to be gentle or courteous and polite. This is seen in how you speak and benevolent deeds. It is not acting and speaking harshly, sharply, bitterly and disagreeably. To be kind is to be mild and tender towards others.
Beloved, this is the truth about you, because the love of God is poured out into you. Don’t function contrary. Reach a brother or a sister today and demonstrate these acts of patience and kindness. This the real you. Go and right the wrongs.
Have a blessed day.
Let me know how this blessed you in the comment session.
DIG DEEPER
(Nehemiah 9:17; Galatians 5:22; Colossians 3:12; 2 Corinthians 6:6; Proverbs 19:22;)
WE PRAY
That we shall exercise the wisdom of God in demonstrating His love which is in us, through patience and kindness towards one another.
BIBLE READING IN THE YEAR 2023
Day 18: Genesis 19-22
DECLARE THESE WORDS:
The Love of God is at work in me. I walk in patience. I demonstrate love persistently and purposefully. I am benevolently useful to others.
Hallelujah!!!
Thank you Sir
I right my wrongs. I love by action
Thank you Lord for the outpouring of your love in me. I remain in God’s love by showing it forth unto others. This is the real me. I practice His love and demonstrate it unto others…umm.Love never fails.
Thank you Apostle Sir.
Thank you Lord Jesus!
I’m blessed by reading. I’ve realised how my Lord loves me with the highest form of love (Agape). Love never fails. This even proves the fact that my salvation is intact. His love for me never FAILS! The workings of His love in me supplies me the ability to also love, not just in words but in deeds.
Hallelujah!
We continue and remain in His love by enjoying His love in a personal way and express it to others…
I am benevolently useful to others
I right my wrongs. I reach out to a brother or sister and demonstrate love
Another masterpiece. ” To say love is patient means to be persistent and purposeful… it also means love has what it takes to endure without quitting no matter the frustration” Now that’s Practical love!!!
Glory be to God for this opportunity to grow in his love. God bless you Apostle!
Thank you Apostle.
I act in love towards the brethren.
I right my wrongs
Glory to God.
Love is the GREATEST..Love never fails.. Thank you Jesus
Love is Patient..Love never fails.. Thank you Jesus
I demonstrate love persistently and purposefully.
I am benevolently useful to others.