This week, the world over dedicated one day to profess and “celebrate” love. For the most part, February 14 has become a day that is commercially viable. BUT, when we reflect on what it is that we choose to acknowledge on that day, as believers of Christ, we’d realise that it is the cornerstone of our faith; Love is the reason why Jesus came.
For that reason, LOVE should not be relegated to just one day and should certainly not be observed the way the world does.
In John 13:34 Jesus said, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.”
Sounds simple enough, yet it is something many of us struggle to do. We need to first understand that we cannot love others well without Jesus.
Sometimes we need to go back basic truths – sometimes we need a simple gospel.
Romans 8:38-39 gives us a good example of this, “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
John 10:10 is another basic truth we must grasp: “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”
John 3:16 is another vital truth: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
All theses verses have one common truth that teaches us this very simple gospel: God is Love.
When the gospel of God’s immense and unconditional love for us sinks into us with the weight it deserves, it anchors our identity in HIM – the only ONE that really matters.
And, when our identity in Jesus is strengthened then we will begin to see and live life through His eyes. We will begin to step out each day in His strength and most importantly, we will begin to love others from the overflow of His Love.
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).
It is only when we begin to abide in Jesus every day will we begin to instinctively love more like Him. Abiding in Jesus IS abiding in Love.
When we soak in love long enough, Love will seep into our soul. It will overflow. That’s when we begin to love others.
We love BECAUSE HE first loved us.
When we learn to receive His love, we will begin to give love to others because He begins to love THROUGH us.
This is why it is so important to walk in the Spirit; we need the help and the power of the Holy Spirit to surrender our lives to God, abide in Him and to learn to love the way He does.
It is the Holy Spirit that teaches us how to remain in God’s presence and love.
The cycle of love through Jesus is in fact very simple; the more you abide in Him and His Word, the more you will understand and trust Him. The more you trust God, the more your compassion for others will grow, and the more His love will overflow from you to others.
This is how we will be known as a true disciple of Jesus – when we begin to love others (John 13:35).
Sometimes, we need to go back to basic truths and a simple gospel so that we can truly know God as our loving father.
And every time, all we need to face the world and overcome the lies that it comes with – is to go back to the truth of God’s Word and the dependency of His love.
We need to go back to the very nature of God. We need to go back to the simple gospel of His love.
His LOVE will never fail.
Suzane Avadiar is a writer, blogger and avid traveller. Over the last 17 years, she has written extensively for various publications in the global marketplace. Writing is not only her passion but also her instrument of worship. She has a deep desire to reveal the Father’s heart through her writings, so that every reader steps into their God-given identity. Suzane also writes daily devotions on social media for her church, Destiny C3 Subang. She recently completed her first book, Sent To Journey – Devotions for the Traveller, and is pursuing publishing opportunities. She can be reached through her blog at www.suzaneavadiar.com or on her Facebook page.
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Suzane Avadiar
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