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Saturday, September 20, 2014

True Love in Action (Part 1)

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Love—an action verb not a noun.  Let’s explore that some more….


NOTES

“And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.  God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.” 

That’s 1 John 4:16, one of the verses from the last posting.  There are many wonderful words and wonderful thoughts and promises in that verse, but the words that jumped out at me were “whoever lives in love”.  What is it like to live in love?

I believe that the answer to that question could take days to explore and discuss.  The personal application would radically affect my feelings of self-worth.  Imagine!  I am living in and experiencing Christ’s love!  But “personal” application isn’t what the Lord is speaking to me today.  Instead, He leads me to a different question:  If I “live in love”, how does that affect my life in this world and with other people?  So, that’s where we’ll go today.  Our journey will be made through several Bible verses that He has given me.  Here we go.

“Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.”  (Philippians 2:1-2)

As a Christian, I am living in Christ and He in me.  Since that’s true, He encourages me and comforts me.  I am guided by His Spirit.  He is tender and compassionate to me.  If I am living in love, I am to be all those things to the people around me.  I always read that statement about being “like-minded” as meaning I am to be in agreement with other believers.  That may be true, but what our Lord has revealed to me today is that I am to be like HIM.  I am to have HIS love, HIS spirit, HIS mind. 

“For you were once in darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.  Live as children of light.”  (Ephesians 5:8)

If I am living in love, I will be light to those around me.  Light, not darkness.  Hope, not despair.  Jesus, not Satan.  Question:  How do I treat others?  Am I light, hope, and Jesus to them?

There are a few more verses that He wants us to look at.  However, in the interest of keeping this a reasonable length, we’ll look at them tomorrow.  

Be like-minded today!  Be light!


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